Crossing Borders

Empowered Girls Dialogue (EGD) II: Giving girls a voice for change through community dialogue.

EGD II builds on the previous CISU funded project Empowered Girls Dialogue (EGD): Facilitating girls’ leadership and community outreach. The purpose of the EGD II project is to allow marginalized Moroccan teen girls to gain a voice within their communities. A voice that drives change to detrimental practices toward girls and women in Morocco.  The project development objective is, to positively impact detrimental practices against Moroccan teen girls at the community level, such as, sexual harassment, forced dropping out of school, and forced early marriage. The core focus of this project is directed toward expanding the Community Dialogue activity, and making them a strong advocacy tool. The Community Dialogue meetings will be led by the teen girls and the activity aim is to give the girls a formal voice within their communities. Through the implementation of EGD II the poor and marginalized Moroccan teen girls in the project will be empowered with civic engagement competencies that will encourage them to solve community problems and engage other youths for civic engagement and participation. Project Objectives: 1. Empower teen girls and enhance their leadership skills to become decision-makers, active civic participants and advocates for their futures.  2. Give the teen girls a voice within their community against repressive customs and ideologies. Project Impact:225 soar girls beneficiaries27 Soar Dialogues held10 Soar Clubs launched18 Women facilitators activated in 10 sites259 Soar empowerment workshops conducted across 10 sites  Know more about our partner : Project Soar Read our blog on Crossing Borders visit to Morocco here 

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Capacity Strengthening for Changemakers

The project’s overall objective is for the partner organization (Teach the Child initiative) and their leader to develop competencies and skills that can make them more effective, sustainable and thrive in a fast-changing world. The aim objective is also to ensure the staff of the organization and public-school educators have a clear understanding of Inclusive education and the use of the TaRL approach in 21st-century teaching for improved educational outcomes in young learners. The project duration will be of three months funded by Danish Civil Society in Development (CISU) during which time the project implementation activities will be locally carried out by our Teach for Child partners. The Capacity Strengthening for Change-makers comprises of 3 days’ workshop in Copenhagen facilitated by Crossing Borders on Organization development and non-formal education methodologies and a 3-day workshop in Nigeria to equip the staff of Teach the Child Initiative and public-school educators with the tools necessary to improve learning outcomes in young learners, particularly those who attend public education institutions. This exercise will influence every other project implemented that target contributing to the achievement of goal 4 of the Sustainable Development Goals -Quality Education. We have kick started the project on 9 January 2023 on zoom with the participation of Crossing Borders and Teach the Child. Stay tuned to see more exciting updates from this project! Check out our partner

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A meeting at European Commission and the European Parliament – A vital step for youth inclusion and engagement in Europe.

What would you say to a high-level diplomat or a decision-maker on a high level if you meet them in person? Have you ever thought of being in such a situation? The last week of September was exceptional for us at Crossing Borders. After very hard work put in by Linda Ligori, a project coordinator at CB, and with our partners in Italy CPLT, we organized a trip to Brussels to pay a visit to the European Commission and the European Parliament. The purpose of this visit was to meet with Mr. Kamil Maj, Member of the President’s Cabinet at the European Parliament, Mr. Nicolai Hartvig, Danish Directorate General for Communication, and Amanda Husum, Assistant to the Danish MEP, Kira Marie Peter-Hansen from The Green Group/European Free Alliance, Caterina Chinnici, an Italian MEP, and Ms. Iris Abraham, and Mr. Mattia De’ Grassi, members of the Cabinet of the Vice President of the EU Commission. This comes as a very important step in our EU project CO4YOU. From Denmark, 19 years old Sima Kamal, a Hazara Afghani refugee in Denmark and a participant in the project was able to join, and this was a big thing for her. “I was the only Afghan girl and I was proud of myself and proud of being an Afghan girl for coming this long way from Denmark as a refugee and talking with high-level decision-makers at the European Union and European Commission,” Says Sima Kamal. Sima came to Denmark in 2021 in the wake of the Taliban seizing power in Afghanistan following the US troops’ withdrawal from the country. The discrimination and violence against girls and women in Afghanistan from the Taliban pushed Sima and her family to leave the country searching for a safer life. “When last year the Taliban took over Afghanistan my family took the hardest decision of leaving everything behind in search of a safer future. Now I live in Denmark with my family and Denmark is our second home” Says Sima. The CO4YOU project spoke to Sima’s heart, and she found herself in this project empowered and confident again. “I lost myself among my pains and my problems, and this project and this trip helped me to get away from problems. It made me feel fresh and strong” Says Sima. The CO4YOU project is an EU-funded project implemented by Crossing Borders and three other European partners, Centro Pio La Torre from Italy SFERA from North Macedonia, and FICAT from Barcelona. This project aims to facilitate open spaces for dialogue toward civic engagement and inclusion of young people within European national contexts and build their knowledge of European values, youth rights, and policies. The purpose of those meetings with the European Commission and the European Parliament was to, first give a better understanding to youth from the 4 partner countries about EU institutions, values, and the decision-making processes. Secondly, and a very essential goal, was to build a bridge with decision makers at this high level of EU institutions to eventually share the findings of our project as a policy recommendation that was promised it will be taken into consideration. “I can’t explain that feeling when I was approaching the gates, I remember it was rainy and I was counting the moments before entering the EU Parliament and with every step, I got closer to the gate I wished I had other Afghan girls with myself there so that we could walk together but unfortunately I was alone, I was the only Afghan girl but I was very proud of myself” Sima One of the matters raised by the youth during the meetings was how could the distance between young citizens and EU institutions be shortened and how to reach directly to the heart of the institutions without an intermediary. In this case, Mr. De Grassi pointed toward the EU Youth Portal while addressing them regarding the new instrument currently being discussed and soon passed by the EU Commission. “It was a great trip for me, and I learned so many new things. I saw the EU Commission and EU parliament from such a close distance, that was mindblowing” says Sima. It is worth mentioning that Sima and other participants from Denmark and the partner countries took part in three intensive days of training back in June. The training aimed at raising awareness about the abovementioned notions while simultaneously carrying forth the notion of active EU citizenship among young people with a migrant background. The project provided the participants with a vital knowledge toolkit enabling them to take a more proactive action within their respective socio-economic and democratic political spaces. Finally, this trip was a huge step for the participants, the project, and for Crossing Borders. We want to express our deep gratitude to Vice President Suica’s head of Cabinet, Mr. Scicluna who through Mrs. Helena Kolaj arranged the meeting with his cabinet members, Ms. Iris Abraham, and Mr. Mattia De’ Grassi for the CO4YOU cohort. Additionally, heart-warming gratitude goes to the President of the EU Parliament for her kind consideration and to Mr. Kamil Maj for kindly delivering a wonderful afternoon meeting even exceeding the one-hour agreed-upon time. Our gratitude goes also to Mr. Nicolai Hartvig, Danish Directorate General for Communication, and Amanda Husum, Assistant to the Danish MEP, Kira Marie Peter-Hansen, and to the Italian MEP, Ms. Chinnici’s office, for giving us a chance to know about the hard work behind the scenes of the individual European MEPs. Have you also read: CB news A meeting at European Commission and the European Parliament – A vital step for youth inclusion and engagement in Europe. October 6, 2022 Facebook Twitter Google+ Linked In Pinterest CB news Youth Promoting Peace and Tolerance – a new project with 4-H Zimbabwe September 15, 2022 Facebook Twitter Google+ Linked In Pinterest CB news The women that want to touch the sky – The story of Mintu Davi September 8, 2022 Facebook Twitter Google+ Linked In Pinterest CB news Workshop on Saturday, September 24th –

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The women that want to touch the sky – The story of Mintu Davi

Today, Mintu Davi is one of the most influential female leaders in her community and many women in the Muzaffarpur district look up to her. Like many other women in rural India, Mintu Davi felt she has no purpose for her life, but that changed when she joined our project “Women Empowerment in Local Development ” implemented by our partner Sehgal Foundation. “I didn’t have anything going on in my life, now I have an objective,” says Mintu. Mintu nowadays has her own business, she started joining Sehgal Foundation’s activities and through that, she gained the confidence and the skills she needed to make her ideas into action. But Mintu didn’t stop at one idea, she started to develop more business ideas like introducing agricultural machines in the field or starting mushroom cultivation, and having more than 25 goats on her farm. We asked, what is next, Mintu? with a smile on her face, she took a moment of silence before she confidently respond “I want to do everything; I want to touch the sky”. Her story became a great motivator and example for women from other villages. She meets with them through our project and shares her thoughts and experience. She became the story that every woman wanted to be. With a proud voice, Mintu told us that she has been invited to the Agriculture Summit that is organized by the government in India where she will be talking directly to the prime minister. This is a great step for Mintu, and this makes her one of the most influential leaders in the Muzaffarpur area in the Bihar district. This project is in collaboration with Seghal Foundation and funded by CISU where more than 500 women from Muzaffarpur, Bihar district in India are participating since the beginning. Together to empower women in rural India Know more about this project Read also Blog Food and Identity May 11, 2022 Facebook Twitter Google+ Linked In Pinterest Blog When laws fail to stop hate speech – What can we do? well here is the answer! May 11, 2022 Facebook Twitter Google+ Linked In Pinterest Project Result A guide to Localising the SDGs from Uganda March 25, 2022 Facebook Twitter Google+ Linked In Pinterest Blog Where to start? Inspirational Talk about Entrepreneurship and results from our project FAMET March 24, 2022 Facebook Twitter Google+ Linked In Pinterest

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Workshop on Saturday, September 24th – Apply now!

Your city, your community – your voice! Do you know this feeling? Living in a place for a while but nothing makes you feel at home, nothing makes you feel like you belong, you feel alone in your head, not knowing what is going on around you. Like a tourist, forever. Sometimes you feel grateful, and then there are times you ask yourself, “what the hell am I still doing here”? Sometimes you even begin to feel like this while you are in your own country, between your people and speaking the same language. This is what happens when you are being excluded from your surroundings, because of who you are or how you identify yourself. Inclusion is the key. When systems, people, and policies include you, you will feel it! When you feel included, the place you live starts to feel like home. When you are being seen, recognized, acknowledged, and appreciated. But inclusion is not a responsibility of one side. It is a collective action from all sides that facilitates the road to “home”. Therefore, it is important to define and communicate your needs, and tell your stories so that other people can listen and respond to them properly. If you join us in this workshop, we will focus on two methods, that we believe will help you with that. The first part of the workshop will be Community Mapping, and in the second part, we will practice Storytelling. So what exactly do we want to do? In the first part, we will discuss and learn about Community Mapping. It’s a method we use to discover what people resonate with, both positively and negatively, about the places they live in. Is there a park that makes you feel calm? A bakery you walk past where the smell of pastries brightens your day? Is there a place that feels like it was made to include you and feels like ‘home’? Or is there somewhere that you avoid, that feels unsafe, or where you feel unwelcome? Through discovering how people feel connected to their community we can learn more about how to make our city inclusive to all. After you’ve created a detailed overview of your community, we’ll move on to the second part of the workshop: storytelling. We’ll listen, you tell your story! Stories connect people, empower and educate, and help bring to light things that have not been talked about before. By sharing your story you are owning your words, and claiming a spot in that community you always wanted to be in. But telling a story isn’t easy, it takes a little bit of knowledge on how to do it and even more courage to actually share it with others. In this part of the workshop, we will learn all this together. Share your experiences with other participants, discuss problems, and find ideas for change in your community. Interview each other, express your feelings, and develop local strategies that can move Copenhagen in a direction that represents all its citizens. By participating in this workshop, you are helping yourself and many others that feel the same way you do, because Crossing Borders will include your input, suggestions, ideas, and concerns in a report that will be used to raise awareness in the public and to address city councils and government. If you live in Copenhagen and have a migrant background, speak English, and are interested in making a difference, this workshop is for you! Bring your grandparents or others whose stories need to be heard, but who may not be as well connected as you.Come join us at our beautiful new headquarters in Nørrebro. This workshop is all about dialogue, connection, and fun. We’ll provide great food and drinks, fun activities, and a safe environment for all. Here you will find a safe space regardless of where you come from, how old you are, what religion you belong to, or whether you are part of the BIPOC, disabled, LGBTQIA+, or any other community. We want to include anyone who feels lost and not heard in a place where they seem to not belong. Claim your space and tell us what you think! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us write directly to the project manager at emma@crossingborders.dk This workshop is part of the INCLUDATE Erasmus+ project, co-funded by the European Commission, which aims to educate migrants or people with a migrant background on how to make their voices heard. To apply or if you have any questions send an email directly to emma@crossingborders.dk

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Mandela Day 2022

“Do what you can, with what you have, wherever you are” The essence of Mandela Day – take action, inspire change, and make every day a Mandela Day – is more important than ever before. As always, Mandela Day is a unique opportunity to do good for those who need it most. Hence, every year we at Crossing Borders seize this opportunity to serve food, drinks, and distribute clothes and play music for the homeless and other citizens who need it. This year, we celebrated Mandela Day in a very special way together with YouPeople. With the participation of the South African Ambassador HE Ms. Magubane and a representative of the Mandela Foundation, we had an unforgettable day with the homeless in Copenhagen. We shared food, donated clothes, and danced to the uplifting music by the great DJ Kipanga who brought his gears and played South African music. Previous Next A million thank you to the Crossing Borders Team for planning and implementing the event. We are grateful to all those who supported and attended the event especially Ala’a at Sorte Firkant restaurant. The Nelson Mandela International Day campaign remains rooted in the call Nelson Mandela made in 2009 to honor him by working in communities rather than by celebrating his birthday. While 18 July remains a focal point for the campaign. About YouPeople: YouPeople is a morning café for the homeless in Copenhagen. They are located in Folkets Hus and we serve coffee, tea, and breakfast 6 days per week from 7-10.30.  They are a part of Kirkens Korshær/DanChurch Social. CB news Crossing Borders // Roskilde Festival 22 June 23, 2022 Facebook Twitter Google+ Linked In Pinterest CB news The key element in the “working together” recipe – PISH Project June 22, 2022 Facebook Twitter Google+ Linked In Pinterest CB news We are partnering up with Transparency International Zambia on a new project – Check it out May 31, 2022 Facebook Twitter Google+ Linked In Pinterest

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The key element in the “working together” recipe – PISH Project

Youth are leading the talks on the greatest challenges that the world is facing nowadays from climate change to social inequalities. These challenges are global and require collective effort in solving them. This implies that people from different backgrounds and cultures will have to work together in order to solve these problems. But what is the key element in the  “working together” recipe? Working together requires clear communication, and in this case, youth need to be competent in intercultural communication. In this context, students in STEM education, who are fighting climate change and other global challenges, need to develop competence in intercultural communication. However, their education is often focused on building their professional capacity, and most of the time cultural barriers prevent effective communication and collaboration. The PISH project (Problem-Based Learning, Intercultural Communications, and STEM in Higher Education) observed this problem and has brought partners around Europe skilled in Intercultural Communication within education together to build solutions that will enable students to develop competencies in intercultural communication in a peer-to-peer learning environment. The last meeting within this project took place in Volos, Greece where Emma – our EU program coordinator, and Aurore, from our communications team, attended. CB news The key element in the “working together” recipe – PISH Project June 22, 2022 Facebook Twitter Google+ Linked In Pinterest CB news We are partnering up with Transparency International Zambia on a new project – Check it out May 31, 2022 Facebook Twitter Google+ Linked In Pinterest CB news Update: leave no one behind – Localising the SDGs in Ghana April 8, 2022 Facebook Twitter Google+ Linked In Pinterest CB news And this is how we localize the SDGs! When people on the grassroots level can influence policymakers. April 1, 2022 Facebook Twitter Google+ Linked In Pinterest Check out the PISH project for more information Learn more

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We are partnering up with Transparency International Zambia on a new project – Check it out

With this goal in mind, to facilitate a civic contribution to strengthening accountable governance through building the capacity of CSOs and youth movements to conduct digitally-driven advocacy in Zambia, Crossing Borders (CB) and Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) are putting hand in hand in a common project funded by CISU. The project’s purpose is to capacity build other civil society actors in Zambia on the use of digital tools, this will happen by achieving those 3 main objectives:   Conduct evidence-based analysis of the effects of COVID-19 restrictions on civic engagement as well as identification and utilization of civic engagement opportunities created by the change of government in Zambia. Strengthen the capacity of CSOs and youth groups to apply digital tools in their work. Facilitate collaboration between CSOs and youth groups in conducting digitally-driven advocacy for improved transparency and accountable governance through holding government and duty bearers accountable. The project mainly will work with Youths, CSOs, and the media in four districts in Zambia (Lusaka, Choma, Ndola, and Kabwe)  Youths, including local-level youth groups, as well as Secondary school and Tertiary level students.  CSOs, at a local level and focus on community engagement, governance, civic education, and accountable governance. Media, including journalists and other media partitioners working for Radio, Television, and Print media houses.  Stay tuned for more news from this project.  Check out our partners Know more about Transparency International – Zambia Click Here

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Apply Now! 11-19 June 2022 – Training Course – Romania

Fill in the application form Apply Now! Facts: Dates: First trip: June 11-19 / Second trip: August: 6-14 Place: Bicycle, Lazareni, Bihor Romania Fee: this trainman in its all phases is free of charge. However, to apply, you need to become a member of Crossing Borders (pay the annual membership fee) and pay 500 DKK administration fee. All other expenses including travel and accommodation will be covered by the project.  Who can apply:  Residence in Denmark Works with youth, a youth leader, a social worker, NGO worker, Volunteer, community worker, etc..  Application Deadline: Sunday, June 5th, 2022 at 12:00 PM  Give yourself time and space to grow and fly. In simple words, that’s what preventive education is about. Nevertheless, it takes time and practice to assimilate prevention work and to deliver it to your beneficiaries, and that’s what we plan to do in this project. This project aims at bringing preventive education as close as possible to the final beneficiaries of this concept, namely teenagers. We invite you to join an intensive educational process on preventive education that consists of three phases: Phase 1: 11-19 June, Training Course in Romania. We will explore methods on preventive education and will discover others’ practice and expertise in addressing this topic with teenagers at a local level. We expect 3 participants / country. Phase 2: 20 June – 1 August. Local activities in each country, using the methods experienced in the Training Course. To be discussed during the TC. Phase 3: 6 – 14 August, YE in Romania with the youngsters who attended the local activities. One of the participants from the TC will be a national GL (Group Leader). Each national group is formed bye 4 pax + 1 GL. Each partner will select the group for the YE. The goal of this activity is to equip you with a very good understanding of the impact created by the prevention work among teenagers and on how this concept should be delivered. We will cover many topics, such as development of addictions, cycle of addictions, principles of prevention work, creation of preventive educational methods, local transferability. You, as a participant, will be part of a great opportunity to collecting relevant methods, tools, principles and other elements from those who are involved in this field. Important: This TC (Training Course) is dedicated to professionals who are active in youth work, education, teaching, social work, support services for young people, psychologists, youth leaders, facilitators, trainers, etc., and have a clear interest in exploring the topic of preventive education in general, and prevention of substance abuse in particular. For the TC we expect to have a group of motivated professionals who have experience in working with groups of youngsters and have organizational support for transferring the practice in their work. The working language will be English, therefore an average level of speaking, reading, and listening is desirable. Nevertheless, should any confirmed participant need support for translation and interpretation, we will be happy to assist with this aspect during the TC. What is expected from you: Homework: before arriving to the event, please prepare a research (no longer than one page), with the following elements: Describe what do you understand by `addiction`. Describe which do you consider that are the effects of tobacco/alcohol/cannabinoids on health, social and financial status (choose one substance). Indicate one national and EU programs on addictions implemented in your country. Send the homework to the facilitation team before the first day of the Training Course. It will be used as a basis for the intercultural learning process. Participation during the Training Course: Full attendance at sessions is mandatory and it is a condition for reimbursing of travel costs. Active involvement. During the week, you will be assigned with different roles that will stimulate the overall group dynamic. Stay tuned for more details Follow-up activities: the participants at the Training Course are expected to initiate: Minimum one local workshop using the methods used in the TC with their groups, to collect feedback and provide pictures from the activities. Dissemination of the TC and the learning outcomes, including the visual elements of the project and Erasmus+ Programme. We need this contribution as part of the visibility of the project. Each participant is expected to contribute to minimum one dissemination activity (details to be provided during the TC). Practicalities: Further practical information will be provided after the selection process of the participants is completed.  Location: we will stay in a rural area named Bicăcel (Lăzăreni), în Bihor County, 30 km away from Oradea, the main city nearby. We will be hosted in new wooden houses, with 2-3-4 beds in one room (single person beds). Each house is equipped with one bathroom and all needed facilities. Fill in the application form Apply Now! Do you have any question? Write to the project coordinator Catherine Namuswe on catherine@crossingborders.dk and she will provide further information. 

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