Advance Training of Trainers in Gender Mainstreaming 2013

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Last Updated (Friday, 29 March 2013 14:11)

Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs
Gender Equity Committee
Advance Training of Trainers in Gender Mainstreaming
3-10 June 2013, Bangkok Christian Guest House
Bangkok, Thailand

 

I. Introduction:

According to the Asia-Pacific Human Development Report in 2010, “in every country across the region, pervasive gender inequality remains a barrier to progress, justice and social stability and hinders the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Discrimination and neglect are threatening women’s every survival where women suffer from the lowest rates of political representation, employment and property ownership and their lack of participation is also depressing economic growth”. Various issues and categories of physical, domestic, sexual violence, harassment, discrimination, rights denial, subjugation and dehumanizing treatment are still common realities for many girls and women of our time.

After long years of attempts and efforts to advance our responses and achieve positive change in gender mainstreaming towards social change through the YMCA work, we realize that we are still far from reaching those goals. We seemed to have taken only minimal initiatives and responses in integrating the process into the overall work of the movement. The interests shown by leaders in this area of work along with the attention given by the policy and decision makers in the movement appear to be on the low side.

As has been written, shared and discussed in some platforms, “gender equality is the goal of gender mainstreaming. Mainstreaming requires integration of gender equality concerns into every aspect of the development process, including the functioning of institutions of governance” of an organization. It is a powerful tool for social change because it takes into account and responds to the intersections of power, wealth, knowledge, capabilities and rights in creating and sustaining gender inequality. (Jim Chalmers) It is sad to note, however, that after 25 long years or more of having this issue-based APAY thrust, the YMCAs have gained not much experience that can be sharedas part of their strategic and specific action plans. Though we recognize the leadership initiatives in the YMCA strategic goals, we know that, in practice, we do not have effective strategies to achieve institutional and social change in our respective movements.

Therefore, as it is not simply an issue within a sector as expressed during the Committee meeting, but more of an overarching issue of human experience,we need to address some key issues within and among us to be able to devise effective strategies that are workable and implementable in our respective contexts. As it has been asked: if policy/program formulation is the key challenge, what is the specific institutional factor that hinders change? What is our experience in changing the environment, beliefs, norms, organizations, attitudes and actions which shape gender mainstreaming processes?Is structural change the first concern or is it our own personal conversion?

As recommended by the Gender Equity Committee of the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs an advanced training of trainers will again be conducted to further train and enable YMCA staff and volunteersto effectively implement awareness raising program in respective YMCAs/communities, raise consciousness on gender issues and concerns, sensitize members and volunteers in local/national movements and further develop trainers at the respective YMCAs. This will hopefully move forward gender mainstreaming in the different YMCAs and communities towards social change.It is therefore recommended that volunteers and staff leaders in the decision making be involved in this process.

 

 

II. Objectives:

This workshop is aimed at clearly defining and effectively communicating the YMCA perspective in gender issues and challenges and its role and tasks as a Christian ecumenical movement; further examining and challenging gender stereotypes that participants have internalized; putting clarity on gender and related concepts; understanding gender issues in the context of participants with tools and skills to encourage gender mainstreaming in their organization; developing training skills, build capacities and advancing participants’ confidence to be trainers on gender mainstreaming in their respective movement.

 

III. Training Curriculum and Modules: (in progress)

 

IV. Participants:

The target participants in this training are mainly those who have participated in last year’s training held in Jakarta in November 2012. Consideration will also be accorded new participants from host country and North East countries who may have similar training experience to what APAY conducted recently and other volunteers and staff in decision-making in the YMCAs.

 

V. Registration Fees:

Cognizant of the financial constraints of most YMCA local movements, the Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs will provide subsidies, albeit modest, to movements facing financial difficulties. Should you, therefore, require travel and participation subsidies, please send your written request to Mr. Kohei Yamada, copy furnished the undersigned. The registration, participation and green fees total US $200. The mandatory participation and green fees are US $85.00 and $15.00, respectively. All participants including those who will be subsidized are required to pay the participation and green fees.

 

VI. Expected Outcome

  1. Participants are able to know and understand the issues of gender inequalities in their respective countries and enable them to learn practical strategies and approaches making gender mainstreaming as integral to the mission response of the YMCA;
  2. Develop and implement the training module they prepared and presented during the training in Jakarta;
  3. Develop an advocacy toolkit for YMCAs;
  4. Develop and formulate Policy Guidelines in gender mainstreaming that is practical, understandable and implementable in the local YMCAs;
  5. Organize/create Gender Equity Committee in Local/National movements.

 

VII. Deadline for submission of filled-up registration forms with flight itinerary will be on May 15, 2013.

 

VIII. Home Work for Participants:

All participants are requested to study the gender issues and challenges in their respective countries and should have a basic information and knowledge about some stories related to their program responses to gender mainstreaming for sharing at the training. They should review and finalize the training module/plans they have prepared and planned during the training in Jakarta.