Reka Si

Join us in the upcoming online conference on cross-sectional discrimination in youth work in Slovenia, Romania, and Italy. It is my pleasure to be moderating a crucial discussion between key experts from public institutions and civil society on combating intersectional discrimination in and through youth work. The discussion will gather experts and representatives of public institutions and civil society from Romania, Italy, and Slovenia. We will start with an introductory address by Darja Sekula Krstič, president of FER, and Andreja Kokalj, State Secretary, Ministry of Justice Slovenia. Followed by an engaging discussion between the participants and the panellists: 🎤 Nina Arnuš, culturologist, Zavod Tri 🎤 Noura Ghazoui, National Coordination of New Italian Generations 🎤 Emanuela Ignatoiu-Sora, researcher in the fields of equality and discrimination, with a focus on the Roma 🎤 Ioana Iliescu, Head of Advocacy, Foundation for Civil Society Development 🎤 Mattia Peradotto, Director, Italian National Office against Racial Discrimination. The purpose of the conference is to shed light on the key challenges of intersectional discrimination and its impact on young people. In a world where different forms of discrimination are intertwined—based on gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, and other factors—it is important to tackle these complex challenges head-on, especially in youth work. The conference offers an opportunity to engage in key discussions, exchange good practises, and create concrete solutions that will stimulate changes at the national and European level. The link for registration is https://lnkd.in/dHbmxMn6

https://lnkd.in/dtjgq7Qs

Alternative Funding Mechanisms for Civil Society Organizations Good practices from the BAYA Association in Sfax, Tunisia. Among the common challenges faced by Civil Society Organizations, CSOs on both shores of the Mediterranean are funding and financial sustainability. There are different theories on alternative ways of funding and their importance for community work and CSOs. However, there are not enough practical examples and modules on how to implement and realise an alternative funding module. Through the ALF in Motion program, Reka Si Research and Art Institute in Slovenia, in cooperation with the Baya organisation in Tunisia, initiated this case study to provide hands-on practice on alternative funding. Baya’s strategy to diversify revenue streams is based on community membership, autonomy in institutionalised funds, community-to-community support, and funding community-based projects through recycling. The community-to-community funding mechanism in Baya is built through the concept of environmental protection and cooperation with the private sector. It enhances the recycling capacities of individuals and organisations such as the University of Sfax. Through the recycling module, individuals and organisations recycle their trash through Baya, which in return sells it to the private sector. Through this successful module, Baya provides financial help to students, schools’ infrastructure, and medical treatments for people in need. Baya’s successful module in alternative funding provides four elements of diversifying revenue streams. This provides an important good practice for the non-profit autonomy of community organisations while working towards environmental protection.

In August, we had the distinct pleasure of launching a case study on alternative funding methods and revenue diversification strategies. This knowledge production was initiated in collaboration with the BAYA association in Sfax, Tunisia. We had the distinct pleasure of visiting them to learn about and document their commendable practices, which are founded on cycling, environmental consciousness, and community-to-community support. Baya established a connection between community members and private enterprises. They augment the capacities of individuals and organisations in waste recycling. Subsequently, Baya sells the recycled materials to private enterprises. All financial proceeds from this initiative are allocated to community social services, including infrastructure development in schools, supporting students' educational pursuits, and providing medical care for those in need. Baya's module contains additional elements for diversifying revenue streams, providing essential practical experience for CSOs in the EuroMed region. Further details will be provided in the case study, which we will publish within one month. This cooperation was enabled by the Alf in Motion program of the Anna Lindh Foundation for EuroMed Dialogue. #ALFinMotion

Our seminar on 27th August is part of the "Gender Sensitivity in Equity for Equality" part of the Catalyst of Change program for gender equality from an intersectional lens in migration and integration in Slovenia. The Netherlands Helsinki Committee and the the European Centre for Not-for-Profit Law Stichting (ECNL) Support this programme as part of the catalyst for change: supporting a thriving civil society in Europe. To learn more about the catalyst for change programme, visit the link: https://lnkd.in/e7PFQ3Kn

The night of 22. 6. 2024 – the queer decolonial research journey and art performance of 1834: Al Ghawazi and Khawalat. We recall starting this journey with research in anger and afterwards creating and making the performance of 1834: Al Ghawazi and Khawalat. Celebrating, reclaiming, and enjoying Al Ghawazi and Khawalat was so powerful during the full moon night of 22 June, in the transition to summer and in the vibes of the unilinear presence of time. We love feeling anger. It brings us peace knowing that we are alive and genuinely present with our feelings as much as we must be. Al Ghawazi the women belly dancers who were banned in upper Cairo in 1834 and Al Khawalat which is an important part of the queer heritage in Egypt. Al Khawalat nowadays unfortunately is derogatory term of what was before celebrated as a queer identity and art expressions. Al Ghawazi means the conquers, and this is how we reclaimed and celebrated the parts of us where al Ghawazi and Khawalat are. This celebration took us to many places of unlearning and learning. It took us on a radical rioting journey for freedom against colonisation, genocidal occupation, theocratic repressive regimes, elitism, all forms of oppression, and into a sexual revolution. A sexual revolution as the Egyptian feminist writer and activist Mona Eltahawy wrote in her book “Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution?” Live, feel, and rise in anger, as anger is OK and riots are the way. #radicalfeminism #AthiestFeminisim #FreePalestine #QueersForPalestine

During November 2024, the Reka Si Research and Art Institute in Slovenia will hold the final conference on "Gender Equality in Mobility". This program is part of the Catalyst for Change programme, supporting a vital civil society in Europe. The program promotes intercultural policy advocacy and monitoring for inclusion in migration, asylum, and integration from a gender and intersectional lens of equality. The conference will start with a creative opening of an intercultural queer performance, "An intercultural queer night with NOT Your Schehrazade and Oum Badawi!" The performance gathers Samar Zughool (she, her), a community art creator and performing artist coming from Jordan and living in Slovenia (presenting NOT Your Schehrazade), with Stavros Kurillos (he, him), a performing artist and clownist coming from Egypt and living in the Netherlands (presenting Oum Badawi). The Anna Lindh Foundation for EuroMed Dialogue will support this mobility programme through its ALF-In Motion programme (TBC). Following the opening performance, there will be a discussion on interculturalism in queer ethics and aesthetics and an interactive presentation of a monitoring report on gender equality and inclusion from an intersectional lens in migration, integration, and asylum processes in Slovenia.

Last week, we had the preparatory meeting for the second stage of the "Gender Equality in Mobility" programme in Slovenia and Europe. The Netherlands Helsinki Committee and the European Centre for Not-for-Profit Law Stichting (ECNL) Support this programme as part of the catalyst for change: supporting a thriving civil society in Europe. Our next step of implementation in Slovenia will be a seminar, which we will hold in Ljubljana on August 27. The upcoming seminar will tackle combating gender-based violence in migration through policy advocacy, awareness-raising, and monitoring from an intersectional lens. To learn more about the catalyst for change programme, visit the link: https://lnkd.in/dM4eBFcw To learn more and join the local implementation of gender equality in mobility, get in touch with us! Reka Si: Research and Art Institute: https://lnkd.in/eGUAYDHp

We conducted this case study last December in Ankara, Türkiye Re-sharing today as we are back in Türkiye but this time in Izmir for another participatory and community art for dialogue project.

834: Al Ghawazi & Khawalat A Community Art performance which will take place at Clay Theater, Ljubljana, on the 22nd of June at 21.00. During the anti-colonial pride month: "Queers for Free Palestine / Pride for Free Palestine”, you are invited to attend the “Al Ghawazi and Khawalat” performance celebrating gender fluid and queer arts, identities and expressions in Egypt before colonization. The performance is taking part as a conclusive action of the Pride for Free Palestine series of actions in June. You can read more about Pride for Free Palestine and its series of actions here: https://lnkd.in/eyvQAgrs The entrance is free of charge. Donations will be gathered for families in Gaza. This performance celebrates the Al Ghawazi and Al Khawalat. Al Khawalt is part of the Arabic heritage of queer belly dance which got stigmatized over time due to the colonial influence in Egypt. Al Ghawazi are woman belly dancers who were banned in Egypt because of colonial influence in 1834. The colonial misogyny feared and hated women dancing on their own. During the 1800s, both Al Ghawazi and Al Khawalat were portrayed by orientalist literature as sexual debauchery. Capitalist colonization contributed to the ban and stigmatization of Al Ghawazi and Khawalat by imposing the taxation system on their bodies. Despite misogynist and patriarchal colonization “The al Ghawazi and Khawalat” arts and expressions are still prominent as resistance through existence. This performance is by the SIDE: cooking and cleaning politics, religions, cultures and arts: Samar Zughool ,(she, her), Behnaz aliesfahanipour (she, they), and Rula Hammadu (she, her).