AGAPE is a Greek word that means LOVE. Our project focuses on the shadow pandemic of gender-based violence (GBV), on the rise globally since the Covid-19 crisis. Our multi-media project encourages young women and girls in the most vulnerable communities in our city, such as refugee camps and shelters to access information and resources, but most importantly provides a safe place, for them to speak about their experience and create brave, new narratives that will inspire and encourage change.
AGAPE is a Greek word that means LOVE. Our project focuses on the shadow pandemic of gender-based violence (GBV), on the rise globally since the Covid-19 crisis. In Greece, violence against women, (especially refugee girls in camps), femicide, rape, domestic violence, etc. are hitting record highs, and these are just the cases reported. GBV is often stigmatized and survivors are afraid to speak out. Within the refugee and migrant community in Greece, there are little to no resources to help.
Research --(Geena Davis Institute, CEDAW and UNESCO shows how media and storytelling can be the sharpest tools for change. Telling your story can be transformative for you and for others. Drawing attention to positive stories of empowerment and resilience is key, and focusing on building coalitions with Greek young women, also celebrating businesses, parks and locations as "SAFE" places in our city for women will help address the stigma and silence surrounding GBV and its survivors.
While media outlets believe in the power of story to change the world, we see the power of story to change the self, NARRATIVE MATTERS. We are using this project as a pilot and hope to expand it to other cities and all of Greece in future years, with the long-term goal of raising awareness, providing resources and training young refugee women to know their rights, take charge of their bodies and join coalitions of other Greek women fighting for change.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
