Working with Dogma and realities, Mohammedia, 23 - 26 May 2007
Youth Incentives was invited by Oxfam Novib to participate as an international expert organisation in a workshop. It was the official kick off to integrate sexuality, gender and HIV/AIDS in the work of the Ecumenical Popular Education Program (EPEP). Staff of several organisations in Morocco, Lebanon, Palestinian camps in Lebanon and Egypt participated in the workshop.
EPEP uses a specific methodology, Pedagogy of the Text (PDT) to learn communities not only to read and write but get also are empowered. Approximately 80 to 90% of the ‘learners’ are women.
During the workshop it became clear how EPEP staff faces difficulties when working on sexual rights. The participants identified how Human rights, Arab rights, Muslim rights, national laws and personal and cultural understandings and attitudes regarding sexuality create dilemmas.
All countries that participated had in common that they define their cultures and communities as ‘super-traditional and strict’ towards sexuality issues compared to other cultures. During the workshop some participants realised that they are judgemental and therefore might not know what really is going on in their communities. Many participants felt reluctant to talk about their own lives and experiences, though everybody concluded that sexuality is part of their lives. It was concluded that the silence surrounding sexuality created myths that does harm and openness should be promoted.
The biggest challenge for EPEP is how to continue to learn about sexuality, gender and HIV/AIDS in a taboo context. Willingness to learn from various experienced experts, partners and activist organisations will fuel EPEP’s spirit to improve that their work deals with the realties of communities. Oxfam Novib’s KIC programme can serve as the main stage of this leaning.
