Last week we met with our partners to kick-off an 18-months collaboration on gender-based violence prevention, co-funded by the European Commission. The goal was to get to know eachother, share perspectives on GBV, and familiarise the partners with the execution strategy, administrative and financial aspects of the project. Moreover, we visited the island, saw the cliffs and turquoise waters, the sea-salt production and experienced the great hospitality of the Malteseans. 

What became clear in our short first encounter: we all have different views on GBVP; the rights and safety of LGBTIQA+ communities and gender diversity vary significantly per country. However, it is evident that in all places much still needs to be done, as those not fitting into the norms of gender expression and sexual orientation face violence and discrimination; even if legally they have the same and equal rights.

Hence, our next step is to assess and analyse the needs around GBVP through Open-Ended Consultations: these are workshops, where the youth workers are invited by the partners to reflect on the knowledge gaps within their society toward gender-based violence prevention, gender diversity, or LGBTIQA+ rights and their learning needs to be better equipped to create preventive measures to GBV. Based on the results, a training programme will be developed for our next event in Colombia. 

Further, these consultations will inform us about the types and forms of non-formal educational materials that need to be created to meet youth and youth workers learning needs, which ensures that our project is responding to the real needs expressed by the people we are serving.