North Macedonia

The dissemination event for the "Closing the gap and empowerment of all women through education" project was held as a final activity. The event was organized to present the project's results and best practices to a wider audience and to provide an opportunity for the youth workers to share their experiences and learn from each other.

The event was held face-to-face on 26th of January, 2023 in Skopje, at the local bar "Casa", with a total of over 20 youth participants, including educators, trainers, and representatives from educational institutions and organizations. The participants came from different educational backgrounds, providing a diverse and multicultural perspective on the topic of gender gap.

The event program included a variety of activities, such as keynote speeches from the youth workers who took part of the mobility and experts in the field of education and gender equality, and panel discussions. The participants were also given the opportunity to present their own work and experiences in promoting the topic of gender equality. Presentation can be found in the following file: 

The event provided a valuable platform for the exchange of ideas and best practices. Also helped to raise awareness of the gender gap and the importance of empowering women and girls through education.

In addition to the face-to-face dissemination event, the project results and best practices were disseminated through online platforms, such as project website, social media, and newsletters, which helped to reach a wider audience and ensure that the project's impact would be long-lasting.

Links for online dissemination of the project:

• https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnz8xn3oyMC/ 
• https://www.facebook.com/ngoworldofchange/photos/pcb.719150993170079/719150703170108/ 
  

What our participants told us about the project: 

Elena Nikoloska: Participating in this mobility in Porto. Portugal was a truly transformative experience. One of the most significant and meaningful aspects of the program was the focus on the gender gap and women empowerment. Through various workshops and discussions. I was able to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges that women face around the world.. One of the things that struck me most about the program was the emphasis on the importance of general understanding in addressing these issues. As a participant. I was able to learn about the rules and laws of participating countries, and how they have shaped the current landscape for women in the country. This helped me to appreciate the complexities of the issue and to understand that it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. But it wasn't all work and no play - I also had the opportunity to indulge in the delicious Portuguese cuisine, and it was an absolute treat. I was able to taste the diverse flavors and ingredients that make up the country's culinary heritage. It was a great way to immerse myself in the culture, and ! left with a newfound appreciation for the country's history.

Emili Hristopulu: Emily here! I am happy to share the amazing experience I had as a participant in the Erasmus+ training course happening from 3rd to 10th of January 2023 in Porto. Portugal. This course has made an significant change for me and my everyday life because I have learned a lot about gender inequality all around the world and rights of women in different cultures. I become more aware of varieties of points of view and sex orientation of others and gained a deeper understanding of one of the biggest problems nowadays and that is the GENDER GAP. Also, I believe that all of us have reached new skills in connecting with our inner selves and contributed in closing the gender gap through many fun. yet educational workshops. With discussions. we revealed the taboos of our time such as domestic and gender-based violence and remembered that the world has many important issues we cannot ignore. Thanks to the Association "World of Change' and NGC United Youth I had the opportunity to enjoy the amazing colorful sights Porto offers with a glass of famous Portuguese wine, made unforgettable memories and new friends from other countries around Europe and developed myself in every aspect.

Vesna Jovikj: Gender equality is not just about economic empowerment. It is a moral imperative. It is about fairness and equity and includes many political, social and cultural dimensions. It is also a key factor in self-reported well- being and happiness across the world. Many countries worldwide have made significant progress towards gender equality in education in recent decades but the glass is still only half full: women and men live in a world of widespread gender inequality. From closing the gender gap to giving all women the opportunity to access education, there's a deal we even want to succeed in this struggle for gender equality. While it's important to focus on fixing these huge issues. it's these little and seemingly innocent examples of daily discrimination that are also working to keep and normalize inequality between men and women. Thanks to the sessions and workshops I have developed an understanding of physical, psychological and sexual-based violence. Especially the Art Therapy activities have helped me to become more connected with the inner me and to understand how my everyday thoughts and growing up with stereotypes are affecting my emotions. Maybe one of the most important things that I have learned is to recognize an abuser and manipulator especially in romantic relationships and to be aware that everyone can become victim of toxicity. Mentioning Porto. I can assure you that I have tried one of the best wines tried one of the best sea food in my live, enjoyed the colorful sights and lost my breath because of the steep streets.

Goran Nikolov: Before the mobility, I couldn't relate to the topic of women's empowerment completely. But once my foot wore the shoes of those people and the trainers of the project started talking about it. my interest picked up. As a man now I'm more concerned about the problem we're facing. I am a global citizen who cares about ensuring the power of equality and the benefits of enjoying it by all. Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the Erasmus+ Training Course in Porto. Portugal, on the topic of "Closing the Gender Gap and Empowerment of All Women Through Education." The course was incredibly informative. providing valuable insights for addressing gender inequality in the world. The trainers were knowledgeable and passionate and the group discussions and activities were engaging and interactive. The location in Gandra. Porto was also wonderful. providing a beautiful and inspiring setting for our discussions and allowing us to experience the local culture and amazing local food. Overall, the mobility was an amazing learning experience that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in promoting gender equality and empowerment through education. It was a great pleasure to be part of such an inspiring and worthwhile initiative.