Bosnia-Herzegovina
| mladi
most |
Mostar,
Bosnia-Herzegovina |
Young
Women's Experiential Learning Network (YWELN)
Mission:
Objectives
YWELN began in September 1998 funded by the Bosnian Women’s Initiative(BWI)/UNHCR
as a weekly discussion group for young women from Mostar and neighbouring communities
as well as a series of weekend seminars on conflict resolution , identity of
women and communication. These seminars were led by both national and international
trainers and brought together participants from all over BiH (Federation and
RS), creating the basis of the existing network.
The original discussion groups have evolved into creative Wednesday workshops where different forms of art are explored with the focus primarily on creative writing. Writing has been the most popular medium of communication as well as group work and has expanded rapidly.
Interest has been so strong that YWELN began to receive requests from participants for the program to reach out into other communities and for these workshops to be offered outside Mostar. With the guidance of an international project coordinator YWELN began to develop their peer leadership and group building skills. Since August 1999 Creative Writing as well as Theatre workshops have been offered to youth in Kostajnica, Jablanica, Čapljina, Ilidľa, Blagaj and Gornji Vakuf/Uskoplje. Individuals from Blagaj, Čapljina and Gornji Vakuf/Uskoplje have also requested and been given assistance in creation of similar groups.
Members
of the group also expressed the wish to expand the role-playing aspect of the
weekly discussion group to weekly theater workshops. The theater group REA SILVIA
(see photo) was formed and has successfully, with the guidance of US theater
performer Eva Burgess, put together two performances both tackling women’s and
life issues. REA SILVIA has performed at many events throughout BiH as well
as in Limerick, Ireland where they were invited as honorary guests at Limerick
Civic week. There the group held several performances as well as workshops in
order to initiate cultural exchange and dialogue between the two communities.
The group had a chance to represent their country and town in this international
event.
Seminars developed to another level by introducing different expressive artistic media, such as mask making,puppet theatre, etc. Trough these creative media participants were enabled to utilise their comunication and conflict resolution skills to collaborate and learn about each other and build relationships even outside of the program. Also, initially for the Mostar area YWELN organized ‘Self Defense and prevention of Rape’ seminar held by a German expert in that field. The seminar dealt with the psychology of the issue as well as physical techniques of self defense.
In 1999, the Bosnian Women’s Initiative/UNHCR, Geneva have requested that the YWELN project be included in their ‘Guidelines to Good Practises in Implementing the Beijing Platform for Action and Gender Mainstreaming’.
In
the period from January to April 2000 YWELN continuied their work with the financial
support of the Norwegian Embassy. The Creative Workshops continued and
opened to exploration of other forms of artistic expression. Outreach
workshops supported young women in other towns in forming their own groups.
Two seminars were held as practical opportunities to strenghten the existing
network and to give young women further exploration and development of skills.
Seminars were held on topics of Educational Theater and Women in Politics
and Society. Theatre Workshops also continued, facilitated by professionals
from Centre for Drama Education. The REA SILVIA group performed in Geneva,
invited by the UNHCR and took part in their program for celebration
of The International Women’s Day. YWELN also exibited fotographs made
by young women in collaboration with the MM photo project. 
Current and Future Projects
The Creative workshops
continue in a supportive atmosphere where young women share their ideas
and experiences with the group. Exercises often build from the ideas of
participants and challenge individuals in their collaborative skills. Participants
are also more encouraged to become peer leaders.
The
Outreach Workshops are fokusing on four centers: Gornji Vakuf/Uskoplje,Nevesinje,
Blagaj and Čapljina. The members of YWELN lead these workshops involving
the development of individual’s expressive and creative skills during
different discussions, games and exercises. Groups in these centers are
forming a network with YWELN group in Mostar as a center.
The Theatre workshops are leading to development of new ideas for the future new performances of Rea Silvia. They are currently seeking a new theatre proffesional to work with on a long term basis. The group make many connections with other theater groups and individuals like “Beavers’ Arts” from England with whom they will cooperate in near future. This provides an opportunity for international cultural exchange with participants from UK.
Seminars developed to another level including more practical work and more active involvement of participants. The main point is still the exploration and development of skills as well as creative problem solving and group building. This series of seminars started with a weekend seminar on Nonviolent Communication and Group Building. The seminar was led by peers from YWELN who passed their knowledge onto new participants that are becoming a great part of YWELN.
Next was a Creative Collaboration “All in One” seminar where young women were encouraged to developpe their creativity using common materials in a different way. This was also led by the YWELN peers. The aim of this seminar was also to show that old , damaged materials can be recycled and used in a new inovative way to make decorative or usefull objects.
Leadership in Nature seminar was held in the mountains near Gornji Vakuf/Uskoplje and involved participants from Mostar and G.V/Uskoplje , both devided towns. The program involved challenging individual and team activities in order to develop leadership and group building skills. Other seminars will focus on theater and drama education as well as other explorations in art like Multimedia, Visual Arts, Music.
YWELN will also give their contribution for the International Woman’s Day celebrations.
Ecology Workshops is a new dimention introduced in the YWELN work. They started in Leadership in Nature seminar, and will continue developing in September with a series of actions directed to cleaning green areas covered with rubbish.
The YWELN group and its work has been regularely presented to the community
through local radio stations Radio X, Studio 88, as well as some TV stations
in BiH that followed REA SILVIA’s performances. Many Irish newspapers documented
YWELN’s work during their visit. Some members of the group were interviewed
for the Council of Europe’s radio program ‘Forum’ and french women’s
magazine ‘Marie Claire’. The most significant media experience was with the
German Radio Deutche Welle show ‘Women on the move’. Members of the YWELN
talked about their lives, experiences, war and work in the group. Members
of the Creative Writing workshop read and talked about pieces they had written.
Several pieces have also been published in a German magazine. The group will
continue to regularly present their work and ideas to the community.