The YWCA of Romania Advocates for the Rights of Young Women
A successful project for the rights of Romanian youth was developed thanks to the Power to Change Fund. The project aims to create a non-formal educational programme to promote social, economic, girls/youth rights and advocacy. Three schools participated in the project, and young people were informed on their rights under the European Union and Romanian labour codes.
During the school year, a total of 1,630 students participated in the programme. The sessions also taught participants how to develop a powerful CV and how to prepare for an interview. In addition, an informative legislative booklet and a website with useful information and referral services were set up. The information was then compiled, translated and distributed.
The two themes of the first seminar were: ‘Human Rights under EU Law’ and ‘Ways to Protect and Promote Human Rights in Romania - Rights for young people’. The second seminar had four themes: employee rights, young women and family rights, social insurance and medical payments. The focus was also on non-formal education counseling and on skills-building.
The activities are taking place from April to June, 2011, and teachers have received training in order to educate the youth. 1,630 students attended and brochures were printed and handed out to all of the students. .
Thanks to a well-structured project, visibility throughout Romania was reached and young people were taught and informed on these important issues. In addition it was a fantastic way for the YWCA of Romania to be heard and to project a positive image across the county. The project has reached more than 2,000 people, including family and friends.
The outcome enabled 14–19 year old participants to advocate for their rights, including those rights specifically related to youth within Romania and the EU. It also created a safe environment for young professionals to share their concerns and help them move forward. “After the lessons some of the students approached their teachers and talked about their particular situations, and some even shared that they, or their mothers, were beaten by fathers and other family members, and that they hadn't know that there were laws in place to protect them,” said a representative from the YWCA of Romania.
The success of the project demonstrates the importance of the Power to Change Fund in reaching out and distributing skills and knowledge to help women and young women to change their way of life, to know their rights and to help their communities.
- Download the World YWCA P2C update June 2011
