Gender Respect: new project for Sheffield schools

A new project is being developed by the South Yorkshire Development Education Centre (DECSY) to work with teachers, performing artists, children and young people – to explore and question gender inequality and violence in a local-global context.

The project will involve developing and trialling new approaches, activities and materials with children and young people from age 4/5 to 14 in a small number of pilot schools. It will be informed by focus group discussions with older teenagers and young adults and also plans to make use of social media.

The aim is for local children and young people to learn  to:

• Question gender stereotyping –exploring ‘masculinities’ and ‘femininities’ and critiquing social media

• Understand global and historical contexts of gender relations

• Explore issues of power, freedom and human rights in the context of gender

• Feel empowered to take action to challenge gender inequality and violence  – including creative responses and use of social media

The longer-term aim will be to make these activities and materials accessible to teachers and others globally through networks such as the One Billion Rising campaign.  Sheffield Rising 2013 are represented on the project steering group.

The project will be launched in the autumn.

For more information, contact Helen Griffin  helen.griffin@decsy.org.uk

Hollaback!

Hollaback! had   a fantastic week of events to mark International Anti-Street Harassment Week here in Sheffield, including discussion workshops, zine making, a craftivism session, a film screening of Cairo 678 and a Chalk Walk around the City Centre.

Sheffield Hollaback! Chalk Walk

To follow on from Anti- Street Harassment Week, there is an annual general meeting for people who want to get involved in organising for Hollaback! Sheffield.

 We have a few roles and objectives in mind including campaigns, education and events. We’re also looking for two or three new site leaders (to replace Kate and Maria as we’re both leaving Sheffield in the next few months). We’re also open to ideas, so why not come along and share yours, as well as finding out how you can help to fight street harassment in Sheffield?  We’re really excited to get more people involved and to hear your ideas.. So see you there!

The AGM will be on Thursday the 18th of April at 6.30pm at The Bath Hotel, which is a pub just off West Street.  Take a look at the Facebook event .

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hollaback-Sheffield/329448817138764

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HollabackShef

 

Sheffield City Council pledges to tackle violence against women

On the 3rd April, Sheffield City Council passed the following motion tabled by Councillor Nikki Bond

That this Council:

(a)       is proud to have supported the One Billion Rising (Sheffield) campaign and its events on 14th / 15th February 2013 to raise awareness about violence against women and girls;

(b)       pledges to make this issue a priority for the next 12 months, through the following measures:

(i)         to continue to provide support to the local Sheffield Rising 2013 movement through the Women’s Network and other relevant areas of Council activity;

(ii)        to promote the voice and influence of women and girls who are victims of violence and the local organisations which work to support them;

(iii)       to support initiatives in schools and colleges promoting consciousness about – and zero tolerance to – violence in relationships among young people; and

(iv)       to collaborate with other public bodies in seeking ways to address the problem and find solutions.

The motion also goes on to condemn the Coalition Government for the adverse effect that their policies are having on women’s lives in general and notes that the Fawcett Society has challenged the national budget from last year, claiming it failed in its duty to assess whether it would impact on women unfairly.

The need for campaigns against sex trafficking

Sophie Mei Lan has published an exclusive interview with Marinela Badea, a 17 year old girl from Romania who was trafficked into the UK and forced to work in a brothel. Marinela tells the story of how people in Sheffield helped her to get her life back together and return home to her family.

Sophie Mei writes:

It is essential to raise global awareness of the problem through campaigns targeting vulnerable people across the globe, and even Hollywood is set to release a film entitled The Whistleblower, based on a US woman who uncovered sex trafficking whilst she was working in Bosnia.

More focus however, needs to be on victim care as they are often scared, traumatized and usually don’t speak fluent English.

Read the full report at  http://www.veritamag.com/2011/01/18/sex-trafficking-a-family-affair/

 

Belly Shimmy Hafla

Bella Shimmy are holding a hafla (gathering) on Saturday 27th April at St Andrews URC, Upper Hanover Road, Sheffield S3 7RQ.

The hafla is an evening of dancing, music, performance, with a licensed bar, BYO food, a souk and a raffle. Funds raised will be donated to Sheffield Rising 2013 to support the local work tackling violence against women.

There will also be the opportunity to join in the “Break the Chain” dance from February 14th (see the moves on our dance page).

Contact bellashimmy@gmail.com or call Julia on 07786 868369

Men Against Rape and Sexual Violence

Come and participate in shaping the way forward for this new organisation!

Date: Saturday 13th April 2013 10am-1pm (registration at 9.30am)

Venue: Room 9016 Cantor Building, Sheffield Hallam University, Arundel Street, Sheffield S1 1WB

The aim of the meeting is to define the main themes for MARSV strategy for taking the organisation forward.

Speakers include Dr Marian Duggan, Criminologist, Sheffield Hallam University

AND a representative from Sheffield United Football Club (TBC).

Break-out groups will look at addressing the issues with different social groupings, for example:

Schools and other educational institutions; Sports, Youth Services; Police and Prison Services; Businesses, Parents; Public Authorities.

Please pre-register online if possible at http://www.marsv.org/events  or email to contact@marsv.org

so that we can organise light refreshments.

And please circulate the flyer to others.

http://vdaysheffieldrising2013.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/marsv_flyer-for-13th-april.pdf

 

Belrobathon on 1st June at Dam House

The Belrobathon will be raising funds for VIDA and Haven House on Saturday 1st June, 3-5pm at the Dam House in Sheffield.

So, what is a Belrobathon? Well, it will be two hours of a Belrobics class to raise funds for the charities. Anyone can take part, you don’t need to know the moves….Belrobics is a little bit like aerobics in that it is easy to pick up… just think more belly dance and shimmy, less jumpy!! The freedom people got from dancing at the One Billion Rising was fantastic and we hope this will build on that self confidence, solidarity and expression.

We will be taking over the beautiful terrace at the Dam House, and the bar will also be open so people can be free to dance and also take a break and be in community with one another. Afterwards the Dam House will be putting on an Arabian themed night with belly dancing and lots of fun! There is no charge for the event, we will be asking people to make donations on the day.

Contact jenny@belrobics.co.uk  for more information.