What happens when Antwerp youth and Palestinian teenagers (virtually) sit together? Curiosity, recognition and humbleness. That is what we were witness to. On September 22-23rd Sensoa co-organised an exchange with UNFPA Palestine for young people from 15 Palestinian schools in Jerusalem and a class of 3rd graders of Koninklijk Atheneum Antwerpen.
The youngsters talked about their lives during the lockdowns – “My life was put on hold” -, their expectations as to marriage and relationships – ‘love’ and ‘spending time together’ ranked highest - and their ideas about gender and situations of sexual transgressive behaviour.
The youngsters talked about their lives during the lockdowns – “My life was put on hold” -, their expectations as to marriage and relationships – ‘love’ and ‘spending time together’ ranked highest - and their ideas about gender and situations of sexual transgressive behaviour.
They discussed differences but most of all found they had a lot in common: they were all convinced that girls are just as good at doing things as boys, and that it’s perfectly okay for boys to cry. All students also recognised situations of transgressive behaviour and thought about the different ways to respond when faced with them.
The Antwerp youth were deeply impressed when their Palestinian peers testified of life during the lockdowns. Raids in refugee camps were common, young people saw the houses of their neighbours being demolished and family members suffered under administrative detentions. Life in occupied territory made the pandemic twice as hard and many youngsters remained silent.
In addition to the youth sessions, exchanges took place with the Ministry of Education of the Palestinian National Authority, youth counsellors and UNFPA Jerusalem on the prevention and increase of gender-based violence at school. Karen De Wilde introduced the group to the Sensoa Flag system, an instrument for professional staff and directors to judge, discuss and prevent sexual transgressive behaviour of children and youth. The increase of gender-based violence in Palestinian schools was presented by representatives of the Palestinian Ministry of Education.
In addition to the youth sessions, exchanges took place with the Ministry of Education of the Palestinian National Authority, youth counsellors and UNFPA Jerusalem on the prevention and increase of gender-based violence at school. Karen De Wilde introduced the group to the Sensoa Flag system, an instrument for professional staff and directors to judge, discuss and prevent sexual transgressive behaviour of children and youth. The increase of gender-based violence in Palestinian schools was presented by representatives of the Palestinian Ministry of Education.
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