Post on 25-Sep-2020
Stichting Feminenza
Annual Activity Report 2015
In the encouragement of every woman’s future and working together for a greater mutuality between the genders
UNDERSTANDING & MANAGING FEAR’building strength, courage & con�dence’
Table of Content
Introduction 3
1IGEproject 4
2Feminenza 6
3Feminenza’sprogrammes 74TheBereavementCounselling 95FeminenzaInternationalProgrammes 10
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In the encouragement of every woman’s future and working together for a greater mutuality between the genders
UNDERSTANDING & MANAGING FEAR’building strength, courage & con�dence’
IntroductionThisactivityreportcoversthemainactivitiesin2015andistobereadnexttotheManagementReport2015andtheSummaryFinancialStatements2015.
Themainfocusthisyear,Internationallyandnationally,wasthestartofanewprogramme,developingathree-yearcurriculumforapersonaldevelopmentjourney,specificallyforladies.ThisresultedinanInternationalpilot‘Gender Development Journey’inwhichmanyladiesfromtheIGEprojectparticipated.Thegroupofladiescurrentlydeliveringthepilotofthisprogrammealsoreceivesleadershiptraininginordertotakethisworkfurtherinyearstocome.
OverthepastyearsFeminenzaparticipantsfromtheNetherlandshavereceivedtrainingindeliveringFeminenza’sglobalprogrammesUnderstandingandManagingFearandForgivenessandReconciliation.ThisisfindinggraduallyitswayintoprojectsthatarebeingdevelopedforspecificvulnerabletargetgroupsinDutchsocietywhocanbenefitfromthiswork,reflectingourmissionstatement‘intheencouragementofeverywoman’sfuture’.
AnotherareaofworkthatischampionedbymembersoftheIGEprojectisthemeaningofthemenopauseasasignificanttransitioninthedevelopmentlifeofawoman.Theyorganizedaseriesofworkshopstoprovidenewinsightsandperspectivestogroupsofwomenandalsoprofessionals.
Againthisyearwewereable-duetogenerousdonationsbysupportersandFeminenzaparticipants-toprovidesubstantialfinancialsupportfortheeducationofayoungrefugeefromtheCongo,inlightofFeminenza’sGive a Girl a Chance programme.
InthisreportreferenceisfoundtotheIGEprojectandFeminenza.TheIGEprojectparticipantscontributetothedevelopmentofcontentwhichisthenfashionedintoFeminenzaworkshopsandtraining,mostlyforthebenefitofwomenandincreasinglyalsoformen.
Finally,wethankthecontributorsoftheIGEproject,whovolunteertheirtimetodevelopFeminenza’sprojectsandeducationalprogrammesandwhoconsistentlyapplyintheirownlivesthenewunderstandingsandinsightsthatareuncoveredaboutthepotentialofthefemininegenderinthistimeandaretherebyrolemodelsforothersinwhatevertheydo.
LienekevanderLinde,ChairStichtingFeminenza
In the encouragement of every woman’s future and working together for a greater mutuality between the genders
UNDERSTANDING & MANAGING FEAR’building strength, courage & con�dence’
3StichtingFeminenzaAnnualActivityReport2015
1 IGE project
In the encouragement of every woman’s future and working together for a greater mutuality between the genders
UNDERSTANDING & MANAGING FEAR’building strength, courage & con�dence’
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TheIGEprojectaimstoresearch,developandestablishthefundamentalphilosophicalframe-worksonwhichFeminenza’sconceptsarebuilt.Itspurposeistofacilitatenewwaysofthinkingandnewbehaviouralpatternsthatsupportthedevelopmentofwomenandmen,andallowthetwogenderstoworktogetherconstructively,andthusencourageabetterhumanresponsetowhatthefutureofthehumanraceandtheplanetneed.
IntheNetherlandssixtytwowomenareactivelyengagedintheIGEproject,inspecificresearchesanddesigningofeducationalmaterial.TheyworktogetherwithvolunteersfromtheInternationalnetworkindifferentdynamicsonavarietyofthemesandtopics.
Insidethisthefollowingdynamicswereactive:• Young Lady Leadership programme ToensurethecontinuanceofFeminenzainthefuture,agloballeadershipprogrammestartedin2015toassistyoungwomenintheirdevelop-menttoenablethemtotakeontheleadershipofFeminenzainyearstocome.Bydevelopingthisprogrammevariousthreadsarebroughttogetherrelatingtospecificdevelopmentrequiredforthefemininegenderinordertoprovideleadershipto
selfandtoothers.Itisexpectedthatsomeoftheworkdevelopedwillbenefitfeminineleadersin
theworldviaFeminenza’sGlobalProgrammes.CurrentlyfouryoungladiesfromtheNetherlandsareparticipating.
(Feminenza Aim 2 and 3)
• Gender Development Journey OnMay1stthepilotstartedwith19ladies. WeeklysessionswereconductedintheSouth ofHolland(Zeeland,Brabant)andintheWest(Valkenburg,Zuid-Holland).Itwasconducted
by4ladieswhopartakeinintheYoungLadiesLeadershipProgramme,whichenabledthemtodeveloptheskills,attitudeandexperiencethat
arerequiredtofacilitateworkshops. (Feminenza Aim 2 and 3)
• Regular open sessions AcommittedgroupofparticipantsintheIGEprojectmetweeklytoexchangeideas,developedprojectsandcontinuedresearchintotheareaspertainingtotheirinterest.TheseopensessionsaimtostrengthentheIGEproject,encourageper-sonaldevelopment,andpromotethedeepeningofone’sunderstandingaboutthedynamicsinvolvedinmeetingtherequirementsofthischangingtime.
Someofthethemesthathavebeenresearchedaretodowithself-leadership,genderdevelop-ment,balancingtheelectricandmagneticlivesandreasoninganddecisiontakinginthefemale,womanandladylife.ThisresearchcarriestheintentiontofurtherdeveloptheuniquecontentandunderstandingsthatFeminenzaoffers;someofitisfindingitswayinthepilotprogrammeoftheGender Development Journey.
• The natural stages in the lives of women Thisisaresearchintothevalueandsignificanceof thenaturalstagesandmajortransitionsinlife. Theresearchintothemenopauseandthetimearoundthemidlife-crisiscontinued.Thefirsthalf
of2015sawavarietyofprocessessuchasaninter- nationalweekendretreatinDrentheinFebruaryandinGermanyinMarch.Aspecificfollow-up
gatheringwithinterestedladiestogodeeperintothecausesofsymptoms(duringmenopause)
andtheirremedieswaspromotedbyoneoftheparticipants.Thisresearchalsoledtoacaptivating
presentationabouttheappearanceoftheladyinfluenceinartandcostumesfromtheRenaissancetonow,whichtookplaceonMarch29.
(Feminenza Aim 3)
In the encouragement of every woman’s future and working together for a greater mutuality between the genders
UNDERSTANDING & MANAGING FEAR’building strength, courage & con�dence’
In the encouragement of every woman’s future and working together for a greater mutuality between the genders
UNDERSTANDING & MANAGING FEAR’building strength, courage & con�dence’
5StichtingFeminenzaAnnualActivityReport2015 5
•ThetimeofEbbing-researchingthe importanceof‘GrowingOlder’ Howtothinkaboutthislastphaseinlife?InGro-ningencoffeemorningswereorganizedinthefirsthalfof2015withladiesinthisagegroup,revealingtheimportanceofdeepeningone’sconnectionsandqualities;itisatimeofwisdomandwiseness.
•Offeringameaningfulcontributiontotheworld InNovember2ladiesofStichtingFeminenzajoinedalargeinternationalgatheringinWaleswhichfocusedontheimportanceofdevelopinganddeepeningone’scorevaluestostrengthenone’sintactnessandinnerfortressinordertoofferameaningfulcontributiontotheworld.(Feminenza Aim 2)
•Mind-BodyworkthroughElectrobics,Theatreand MeditationAlsothisareaoftake-upcontributedtothepilotGender Development JourneyprogrammeandprovidedaseriesofpracticalArtsexercisesthatsupportthework.InMarchaweekendworkshoptookplacewherethepentagrammiccolourdanceswerepracticedandrecorded.InDecemberaDVD/CDColours, Rhythms and Movementswasproducedandwillbemadeavailableinsidethenewcurriculumofthepilotaslearningmaterial.
• Thestrategicplan2015-2017forStichting Feminenza Thiswasworkedwithdifferentcontributorstothe IGEprojectandupdatedaccordingtofeedback given.
Responses of participants of the pilot ‘Gender Development Journey̓:
‘I have more consciousness
about the different lives within,
getting to know them better
as separate lives and how
they relate to each other.
It gives an inroad to self-leadership
and I am beginning to feel the potential
of the not-yet realized.’
‘I have taken up
more responsibilities.’
Feminenzaisofferingactivitiesforwomen(aged18andabove)tohelpthemunderstandthemselvesandothersbetter,andtobemoreeffectiveincopingwiththechallengestheyarefacedwith,inpersonalandprofessionallife.(Feminenza Aim 2)
•Circlemeetings Circlemeetingshaveanopenandinteractivenatureandincludethedevelopmentofnecessarytoolsforpersonaldevelopmentandgrowthandexpressionsuchasmeditation,dance,creativearts,bodyandmindwork.
CircleNorthofBrabant RegularactivitiestookplaceuntilMay. Thereafterallactivitieswererefocussedtowards
Gender Development Journeyexplorations. Newideasforexternalactivitiesin2016,such askitchentablemeetingsforwomenintheneigh-bourhood,areinthebrewoffutureactivities.
CircleGroningen Theinformalmeetingsaboutthefifthstageof lifethatwereinitiatedforwomenover55in Groningenin2013,continueduntilthebeginningofMarch.
•FeminenzaworkshopaboutMenopause ThisworkhopentitledMenopause a confron- tationoflostyouthoraphasetoanewbeginning tookplaceonMay30inLeiden,withparticipantsrangingintheageof43to66.Inaninteractiveprocessunderstandingsofthisnaturaltran-
sitionstageinalifeofeveryladywerebeingtransferred,providingnewunderstandingsanddealingwithmisunderstandingsaboutthisstageoflife.Duringtheprocesstheparticipantsfoundmoresettlementbytheunderstandingaboutthesignificantmeaningofthisstageinlife.Theyfeltempoweredintheirjourney,whichisuniqueandrecognizableatthesametime.
•FeminenzaNewsletter ThefirstFeminenzaNewsletterwaspublishedinthecourseof2015withtwoladiesfromtheIGEprojectintheNetherlandsintheeditorialteam.ThenewsletterwillappearregularlyandtheaimistopublishaboutFeminenza’sworkintheworldandtheimpactitishavingonpeople’slives.
2 Feminenza
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In the encouragement of every woman’s future and working together for a greater mutuality between the genders
UNDERSTANDING & MANAGING FEAR’building strength, courage & con�dence’
Understanding and Managing Fear ThisyearagaintwoDutchvolunteersweretrainedinFeminenza’sglobalpro-grammeUnderstanding and Managing Fear.Thistrainingprogrammehascausedanintensifyingofresearchandnetwork-ing,fundraisingandatraininginprojectplanning.(FeminenzaAim2and3)
Asaresultofthispilotprojectswereinitiatedaimedatdifferenttargetgroupsinthesociety(refugees,domesticviolence,vulnerablegirlsatschool).In2015theFemmes Puissantesprojectwasimplemented.Alsotheaccreditationpro-cessforoneofthetraineefacilitatorshasstarted.Nexttothis,throughout2015,workshopsaspartoftheUnderstanding and Managing Fearcurriculumwereconductedforwomenwhoexperience(d)domesticviolenceinapartnerrelation-ship.Theprojectwithschoolgirlsage15-18(IkbenOK!)hadtobeputonholdduetolackofresponse.
3 Feminenza’s programmes
TableofmajoractivitiesActivities201523-24MayA2dayInternationalUMFexperienceinDenmarkfacilitatedbytwotraineefacilitatorsoftheDutchUMFprogramme.
Project‘HeftinEigenHanden’• VariouspresentationstoGGZ,GGD,Kwadraad,RosaManusand MunicipalityLeiden,theNetherlands.• 12oftheirclientsappliedtoparticipateandafterselectioninterviews 9ladiessignedup.• February-April3theyweretakenthroughaseriesofworkshops: 1. Thethreelives(female,woman,lady) 2. Building of qualites 3. A2dayUnderstanding and Managing of Fear experience• Eachparticipantreceivedthreementorcallstodiscussthetakeupofthe toolstheywereoffered.• Evaluationbasedonquestionnairesshowedasignificantreductioninfear andincreaseinconfidence.• Spinofffromthisprocessisthattheladiesstartedtheirownself-helpgroup tosupporteachother.
Some comments from the participants: “This is not just for us; this is for all women in the world.” “I cannot believe how practical this work is.”
“I wish I could be in this every week.”
Target group22participantsfromtheinternationalFeminenzanetwork,menandwomen,age18to66,fromAustralia,Czechoslovakia,Denmark,theNetherlands,UnitedKingdom
Womenwhoexperience(d)domesticviolenceinpartnerrelationships.
ParticipantsareclientsfromGGZ,KwadraadandRosaManusinLeiden.
In the encouragement of every woman’s future and working together for a greater mutuality between the genders
UNDERSTANDING & MANAGING FEAR’building strength, courage & con�dence’
7StichtingFeminenzaAnnualActivityReport2015
Tableofmajoractivities(continuance)Project‘FemmesPuissantes’-AmbassadorsofSelf-LeadershipThisprojectwasstartedasacooperationbetweenFeminenzaandDeBakkerijinLeiden,theNetherlands.• InFebruarythefundingfromProjecten In Nederland (PIN),wasreceived.• DuetodiscontinuationoftheDFA(‘Diaconie Africains Francophones Leiden’)theprojectwas lodgedwithDeBakkerij(themainorganization).• August-Septemberrecruitmentandintakesessionswithparticipants;explanationoftheprogramme, draftingtheirlearningobjective(s)• 14-15November,the2-dayFemmesPuissantes. TheUnderstandingandManagingFearprogrammebeingamajorpartofthe2-days.• 19December,firstadditionalsessionwithparticipants;thethreelives,feedbackaboutthelearning ofthepreviousmonth,andwhatqualitiescouldhelptheminrealizingtheirlearningobjective(s)
One of the participants: “A lot has changed. I have more confidence and feel strong. I am more conscious of my own qualities, have more ‘grip’ on my stress and I have more energy than before. I practise what I learned unto my daughter. I tell her how beautiful she is and what she can do well… If the course is good for me, it will do her good too. I told my husband and my sister in Morocco about the three parts of the brains which they found useful…”
Target groupFrenchAfricanRefugeewomenengagedwithDeBakkerijinLeiden.
In the encouragement of every woman’s future and working together for a greater mutuality between the genders
UNDERSTANDING & MANAGING FEAR’building strength, courage & con�dence’
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Thisproject(RubyHeart)providescounsellingtopeoplethatarefacingloss,bereavementandtrauma.ItalsoconductsstudiesconcerningForgivenessinthecontextoftraumahealing.
Supportgroupswereformedaroundindividualsandfamilieswhocopewithchronicillnessesorterminallyillfamilymembers,assistingandofferingsupportinvariouswaysandaccordingtoneed.
4 The Bereavement Counselling
9StichtingFeminenzaAnnualActivityReport2015
In the encouragement of every woman’s future and working together for a greater mutuality between the genders
UNDERSTANDING & MANAGING FEAR’building strength, courage & con�dence’
StichtingFeminenzaactivelycontributestotheMDG3goals,UNSCR1325and1820byprovidingexpertise,humanresourcesandfinancialsupporttotheimplementationofFeminenza’sInternationalProgrammes.
•GiveaGirlaChance TheGiveaGirlaChanceprogrammeof Feminenzaaimstoraisefundstodeliverhelptogirlsinneed.Thecircumstanceofmanyyounggirlsandwomenaroundtheworldcausesthem
tobedeprivedofsafelivingconditions,medicalcare,education,freedomofchoiceandeventhebasicnecessitiesoffoodandclothing.In2015StichtingFeminenzaraisedfundsfromsalesofproductsfromKenyaacrosstheInternational
networkandbydonations.Becauseofthesefundswehavecontinuedtosupportayoungwoman,refugeefromtheDemocraticRepublicofCongo,tocompletehervocationalstudyonCommunityDevelopmentattheDaystarUni-versityinNairobi,Kenya.Wewereabletoraisefundsandcoverherschoolingfeefor2015,whichwillbecontinuedin2016inordertoallowhertocompletehereducation.
5 Feminenza International Programmes
•TheForgivenessandReconciliationCounsellortraining programme
DuringavisitinFebruary2015theCEOof FeminenzaInternationalandtheChairof FeminenzaKenyametwith12representativesofthewomenleadersfromNakuru,Kericho,Kisii,Eldoret,Borabu,Sotik,BurntForestandCheptaiswhotookpartinthe2010-2011trainingprogrammeforForgivenessandReconciliationCounsellors.Itbecameclearthattheimpactofthetrainingonthewomen’slivesandtheircom-munitiesisstillstrongandlong-lasting:varyingfrompeaceaccordsbeingsignedbetweeneldersfromtribeswhohadbeeninconflict,tointro-ducingForgivenessworkinschools,toassistingthousandsofmenandwomenintraumahealingbyapplyingthetoolsprovided.
5-dayUnderstandingandManagingFearandForgivenessProgrammeforGlobalCommunitiesKenya
InJune2015FeminenzaKenyaprovided10daysofconsultancyfortheKenyaTunaUwezopro-grammedeliveredbyGlobalCommunitiesKenyaandfundedbyUSAID.GlobalCommunitiesisaninternationalnon-profitorganizationthatworkscloselywithcommunitiesworldwidetobringaboutsustainablechangesthatimprovethelivesandlivelihoodsofthevulnerable.
Kenya Tuna Uwezo Progamme ThisisspecificallyworkingtoreduceethnicandpoliticallymotivatedconflictintheinformalsettlementsofNairobibystrengtheningcommunities
1010
In the encouragement of every woman’s future and working together for a greater mutuality between the genders
UNDERSTANDING & MANAGING FEAR’building strength, courage & con�dence’
towithstandpoliticalmanipulation,andreachingthousandsofatriskyouth.TheconsultancyofFeminenzawasaimedatequippingbothwomenandmenwiththeinnertoolsoftransformationtocounterviolentextremism,andhelpindividualsrebuildtheirlivesandmakemoreconstructivechoicesabouttheirfutures.Theconsultancywasextendedto9communitiesinNairobimostatriskofradicalization:Kiambiu,Kibera,Mathare,Korogocho,Mukuru,Dandora,Kengemi,EastleighandMajengo.
The5-dayProgrammeofthisconsultancy,usingacommunityactioncenteredapproach,consistedofthe2-dayprocessonUnderstanding and Managing Fear–aself-directed,reflective,practicalprocess–whichteachestheparticipantshowtofaceandunderstandtheirfears,asafirststeptowardsfor-givenessandreconciliation.Ithasproventoreducethesymptomsofpost-traumaticstressconsiderably.
The3-dayprocessonthePillars of Forgivenessteachestheparticipantshowtomovethemselvesandothersawayfromthecycleofviolence,by
11StichtingFeminenzaAnnualActivityReport2015
In the encouragement of every woman’s future and working together for a greater mutuality between the genders
UNDERSTANDING & MANAGING FEAR’building strength, courage & con�dence’
‘re-humanizingtheother’,fosteringempathyandmutualunderstanding,buildingtrust.Inthelongerterm,thiscreateslastingrelationships–firstlybetweentheparticipantsthemselvesandthenextendingthesetotheircommunities,to‘re-weavethesocialfabricatthegrassrootslevelinsupportoflong-lastingpeace’.Intotal60communityleadersparticipatedintheconsultancyoverthecourseof10days.Thefinalreportabouttheconsultancy,entitled‘Feminenza’s 5-dayTraumaCounselling/HealingWorkshopRFP-KTU-15-02forUSAID’sKenyaTunaUwezoProgram’canbeobtained(info@feminenza.nl).
In2015thebaseofeducatorsfortheUnder-standing and Managing Fear and Forgivenessmoduleswasfurtherbroadened.Towardsthisendapractitioner-trainingsessiontookplaceinDenmarkforUnderstanding and Managing Fear,enrollingnewpractitionerswhowillstartupprojectsintheirowncountries.
TableofmajoractivitiesFebruaryVisittoKenyaforvariousgovernancematters,meetingswithstakeholdersandtraineesofthe2010-2011ForgivenessandReconciliationtrainingprogramme.
8-19JuneA2-weekFeminenzaconsultancyinUnderstanding and Managing Fear and Forgiveness,inNaivasha.
Target groupRepresentativesofthewomenleaderswhotookpartinthe2010-2011trainingprogrammeforForgivenessandReconciliationCounsellorsandstakeholders.
60communityleaders(womenandmen)fromNairobi’sinformalsettlements.ParticipantsincludedMuslimsandChristiansofbothgenders.
In the encouragement of every woman’s future and working together for a greater mutuality between the genders
UNDERSTANDING & MANAGING FEAR’building strength, courage & con�dence’
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• Feminenza Kenya ChapterStichtingFeminenzacontinuedtosupportthedevelopmentofFeminenzaKenya,bymeansoffinancialandadministrativesupportandprovidinghumanresources.ImportantaimofthestrategicplanningfortheorganisationistokeepprovidingrelevanttrainingforwomeninKenya,intheareaofUnderstanding and Managing Fear, Forgiveness and Feminine Leadership.HencethevisittoKenyainFebruary.
OneoftheprojectleadersoftheIGEprojectintheNetherlandsisalsoChairofFeminenzaKenyaandtravelledtoKenyatwiceinFebruaryformeetingsandgovernancepurposesandinJunetoassistinthedeliveryoftheeducationforcommunityleadersofinformalsettlementsinNairobi.
FeminenzaKenyaaimstodevelopacadreofKenyan(feminine)leaderswhocandeliverFeminenza’sworks.Towardsthisend2yearsago2KenyanwomenbecamepartoftheBoardofFeminenzaKenyaandalso2womenareexpectedtostartthisyearthetrajectoryofaccreditationfortheUnderstandingandManagingFearandForgivenesstrainingmodules.
• Gender Development Journey In2015apilotstartedtofashionastructureddevelopmentjourneyforwomen.Thisjourneyprovidesthestepping-stonestobuildthebasicplatformsfromwhichwomencangrowtheirnaturalpotential.Startingpointisthemeaningofbeinghumanfromwhichfoundationcanbeexploredwhatisthemeaningofgenderandwhatisnaturaltothefemininegender.Womengetintroducedtothemanylivesandfacultieswithin,andtheirownuniquetalents.Itoffersauniquepossibilityforwomentomakebetter-informeddecisionsaboutvariousaspectsintheirlives,forexampleaboutthepurposeanddirectionoftheirlife,self-managementandrelationshipswithothers.Thejourneyofferstoolstobecomeone’sowntoolmakertherebystrengtheningself-leadership.
RegularlyplanningweekendswereheldintheNetherlandsandinGermanytodesigntheeducationalmaterialforthisnewprogramme.LessonandlearningmaterialhasbeendevelopedbyagroupofladiesfromtheUK,Netherlands,Ireland,DenmarkandGermany.ThepilotwaslaunchedinallFeminenzaChaptersworldwideonMaythe1st.
13StichtingFeminenzaAnnualActivityReport2015
Thelessonoftheelectricandmagneticlives
In the encouragement of every woman’s future and working together for a greater mutuality between the genders
UNDERSTANDING & MANAGING FEAR’building strength, courage & con�dence’
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In the encouragement of every woman’s future and working together for a greater mutuality between the genders
UNDERSTANDING & MANAGING FEAR’building strength, courage & con�dence’
Colophon
Contactdetails StichtingFeminenza Postbus347 2300AHLeiden info@feminenza.nl0172242296ANBIStichtingFeminenzaisaregisteredpublicbenefitfoundationChamberofCommercenumber28090267Websitewww.feminenza.org/nlLay out and design: HarmienMeijer