Today I met with Pati and Carlos at IUMUSAC to discuss last week’s workshop and plan for next week’s. Since next week is the last session and we will be speaking about change and action, I suggested that we use Jackson Katz’s “10 Things Men Can Do to Prevent Gender Violence.” Pati loved the idea, but to my dismay asked me to write it all out on a poster board and to create one for women. Since Jackson’s list is already translated and already created that wasn’t too much to ask, but to actually create one for women and then translate it into Spanish, and then make it into a poster wouldn’t be easy. But I agreed and said I would bring them next week. Now to brainstorm about how to speak about women’s role in prevention since only the perpetrator can prevent his actions. Pati and Carlos also spoke about the closing ceremony for next week which they decided would consist of each student stating one thing they will do to change their behavior to prevent violence in their lives. Carlos said he would get white ribbons to give out again and Pati would bring candles for the students to light when describing their commitment.
After the meeting, I went to the Palacio Nacional and met with my friend Jenny and her friend Ana for lunch. I invited them to join Simón and me later that night to see a Foto 30 exhibit at the Edificio de Correos and she said she would come. After lunch (Pollo Campero) we walked next door to Correos so I could meet with Simón before our meeting with Volusac and so Jenny and Ana could see Simón’s office. We said bye to the girls and then Simón and I were off to the meeting. Though the meeting took place at the Volusac office, the workshops they were inviting us to give were going to be in collaboration with groups in Zone 6 called Programa Adulto Mayor and Epsum. They initially invited us to do one workshop but we explained that we normally do 10 workshops, so they said that if we can fit into the schedule they already have of eleven three-hour workshops then we can do more. Amalia and Alex, two social work students at USAC will be facilitating the sessions that we don’t or splitting the sessions half and half if we decide not to do the full 3 hours.
- Alex, Amalia, a woman from Volusac, me and Simón
The schedule is:
9/16 1. Que es genero
9/23 2. Que es violencia intrafamiliar
9/30 3. Tipos de Violencia: Fisica, Psiquica, Sexual, Patrimonial, Domestica, y Cotidiana
10/7 4. Violencia Intrafamiliar contra la ninez
10/14 5. Indicadores de sospecha de los agresores
10/21 6. Fundacion sobrevivientes
10/28 7. Frases de apoyo y defender nuestros derechos
11/4 8. Fundamento legal
11/11 9. Derechos Humanos
11/18 10. Sugerencias a padres de la familia
11/25 11. Evaluacion y clausura
Since I will be leaving back to the US on Oct 29, I really could only choose from the first five since the 6th is with another group, Sobrevivientes. I decided that we could fit into 4 of the sessions, 1-3 and session 5 for an hour and a half each. They said that was fine and to send an outline of what we are going to do so we make sure we aren’t being repetitive and that we fit within their subject for each session. I said I would send the outlines as soon as possible and exchanged contact information with Amalia.
After the meeting, Simón and I met up with Jenny and Ana at the Foto 30 exhibit. It was a nice ending to a long day and I was able to take my mind off all my new homework for a little while.
- Jenny, Ana and I