#YouthSpeak-Youth Volunteer Program

Donor/Partner: CORDAID

Duration: 2020/2021

Location: Erbil Governorates, Iraq, IKR

Summary:

The overall project objective is to engage, support, empower local youth from diverse backgrounds to combat GBV, advance gender equality, and to enhance inclusive social cohesion through positive environmental efforts among all community members to ensure in an effort to securing a safe, sustainable and equitable future. The project aims to contributing to the improved prevention of and response to violence against women and girls, by providing them with skills and knowledge to identify types of GBV and seek support services if they experience or are at risk of GBV. The activities also aim towards addressing harmful social and cultural norms and stigmas through long-term attitude and behavioral changes, especially among males and disempowering conservative household traditions and views. This is done in part by noting tangible real-life consequences of gender-based violence and gender disparities effecting their sisters, daughters, and mothers as well as highlighting evidential positive outcomes, benefits, and value of equal participation. The activities also aim to build the social assets of girls and women participants to ensure they have someone they can turn to if they experience or are threatened by GBV. Moreover the project will engage in social cohesion efforts by brining different community groups together while combating climate change through environmentally friendly efforts.

Women and children, are especially vulnerable are at more risk of being deprived of their basic human rights given gender discriminatory social norms and the breakdown in social systems of Support. Gender biases and stigmas prevent women from accessing the many services and support services exacerbating domestic tensions. In addition, the lack of support from male household members and obstacles limiting women’s participation in activities, base on these points the needs of gender equality ,GBV preventions and response activities  are needed in the light of the project the activities toward this section will focus on aware as much as people on the importance of gender equality and the negative effects of the GBV on community through posting video on social media, train some teachers on GBV core concept as well as do some snapshot interviews with people to know their knowledge level in gender equality.

The level of violence, destruction, degradation and indignity, displacement that has the Syrian refugees and IDPs experienced shocked the national and international community alike. Many IDPs and Syrian refugees are living in Erbil the signs of tension are still their although some of them are in Erbil since more than 9 years. The level of tension between host community and refugees is not been decreased, the tension might create an incredibly unstable environment. Trust and confidence building are a critical component of the peace and security necessary for development. Social cohesion initiatives help in decreasing the level of tension. The initiative activities build a safe space for members of different groups to create shared experience, better known each other and enjoy time together.