The future of equality in the hands of young people who speak out and lead change in the face of macho violence

-The European project No Da Igual trains 24 young agents of change who have raised the awareness of 1,200 other young people and adolescents in the prevention of violence against women

-Free online course and a series of materials published for professionals to use peer-to-peer education to promote youth leadership on equality issues

-The Government of the Region of Murcia recognises the impact of No Da Igual with the Youth Award for the best equality project

No Da Igual | Camp in Almeria during the No Da Igual project

The European project No Da Igual has established itself as a key initiative in the fight against gender inequalities and male violence among young people. Throughout its implementation, more than 1,200 young people aged between 14 and 22 from Murcia, Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha and Castilla y León have participated in awareness-raising and learning processes that have promoted equality as an essential value in personal and community relationships.

Through the methodology of peer education, Cazalla Intercultural, Jovesólides, Fundación Plan B and Proyecto Kieu have trained 24 agents of change who, in turn, have trained adolescents and young people in 86 workshops given in secondary schools, high schools and universities. Seventy education and youth professionals have also been reached.

One of the most relevant milestones is the launch of a free online course, aimed at professionals working with young people, with the objective of providing them with practical tools and innovative methodologies to address gender-based violence and promote inclusive spaces. You can register for the MOOC through this link and obtain an official certificate upon completion.

Various support materials have also been developed to guide the work of young equality agents and professionals. These are the Guide for agents of change; the Guide for coaches and the Youth proposals for equality policies. The latter are the result of a structured dialogue between young people participating in the project, political agents, activists and third sector entities from Murcia, Valencia, Castilla-La Mancha and Castilla y León.

All resources are freely accessible and available for download in Spanish and English.

NO DA IGUAL | All materials and resources to promote peer education for equality can be freely downloaded in English and Spanish

Training, community and debate to transform equality from the youth perspective

Within the framework of No Da Igual, a seminar of experts was organised in Numancia de la Sagra (Toledo), in which professionals from different fields analysed issues such as fatphobia, aesthetic violence, Islamophobia, sexuality and the dynamics of power in social and couple relationships. This meeting served to identify the most relevant issues and to focus the contents of subsequent training and workshops.

The project included a summer camp in Almeria, where a group of selected young people were trained to become multipliers, activists and educators in equality. Subsequently, these young people have led conviviums in each region, creating safe spaces for the exchange of experiences, reflection and collective learning. They have also participated in various local actions to encourage critical reflection on gender roles and micro-aggressions among the Spanish population.

The Ke No Da = Fest festival brought together nearly 300 young women and experts against male violence in Murcia. The day included a political debate, ten training workshops, performances, exhibitions, cultural activities and spaces for participation. The performances of the rapper Sara Socas and “Teatro del barrio”, with their play “No soy tu gitana” (I am not your gypsy), were the climax.

On the other hand, coinciding with International Women’s Day, the cycle of digital meetings “Conversaciones (In)cómodas” was held, where young people from all over Spain and experts were able to chat in a relaxed and safe environment through social networks about sexuality, power relations and masculinities, gender Islamophobia and fatphobia. Nearly 7,000 people followed the four events in which Fátima Bourhim, a specialist in gender and Islamophobia in youth environments; La psycho woman, an expert in sexual and reproductive health; Rioko Fotabon, a reference in anti-racist queer identities and the actor, comedian and scriptwriter David Pareja, who addressed models of masculinity, took part.

Some twenty video tutorials have also been produced in a short format and an attractive audiovisual language for young people, in which the keys to the main issues addressed in the framework of the No Da Igual project, such as gender Islamophobia, fatphobia, violence in intimate relationships and stereotypes towards the Roma people, are presented.

Empowering youth against inequality in a context of rising stereotypes and violence among minors

The Regional Ministry of Culture, Youth and Tourism of the Region of Murcia has awarded the Youth Award in the equality category to the No Da Igual project in recognition of its impact.

No Da Igual has demonstrated that, through education and active participation, it is possible to generate a qualitative change in society. Young people have been empowered as leaders in the fight for equality, leaving an impact that transcends the duration of the project and laying the foundations for a fairer and more inclusive coexistence in an unfavourable context.

The first CIS survey on the perception of equality and gender stereotypes shows that 51% of boys aged 16-24 think that ‘we have come so far in promoting equality for women’ that they are now being discriminated against. However, male violence has doubled in the last four years among the younger age group. The number of underage girls with boyfriends or ex-boyfriends who abuse them has grown by 87% since 2018; almost half of them are unaware of being victims of gender-based violence.

No Da Igual is an education for development and global citizenship project developed by the social organisations Cazalla Intercultural (Murcia), Jovesólides (Comunidad Valenciana), Fundación Plan B (Castilla y León) and Proyecto Kieu (Castilla-La Mancha) which is funded by the European Union’s Citizenship, Equality, Rights and Values Programme. You can follow all the news about the project with the hashtag #QueNoDaIgual on social networks.