logo

Newsroom

Intergenerational Dialogue programs held in Udayapur

21 Dec 2021

Inter-generational dialogues are interactive, participatory forums that bring together older and younger generations and create shared knowledge and meaning with a collective experience. This is a common tool WOREC implies at the community level for exchange and sharing knowledge enriched by the experiences of different generations in a reciprocal approach.

On September 6, the inter-generational dialogue program was organized by WOREC in close collaboration with Katari Municipality ward no. 1, Rautamai Gapa Ward no. 7, and Chaudandigadhi Municipality Ward No. 6 of Udayapur district. Likewise, on September 7 and September 13, the intergenerational dialogue program was organized by WOREC in partnership with Chanelshil Mahila Samudiyak Sanstha and Rautahit Kendra of Udayapur district targeting women and adolescent girls from the community.  

The inter-generational dialogue programs were organized to analyze the personal life experiences impacted by harmful traditional practices of different generations of women and girls and how these experiences become the political agendas.  Thus, the main objectives of inter-generational dialogue programs were to recognize the issues of women and girls, knowledge exchange, reflect on the generational gap and develop a common platform to find solutions jointly. 

 

Significant points of discussion were-

  1. What are the differences between the previous generation of women and the next generation of adolescents?
  2. Whether they have acted differently or not?
  3. How has one generation has taken the wishes, desires, feelings, etc., of another generation?
  4.  What are the similarities and differences between them?
  5. What is the understanding of the group towards public places? ; How do teenagers claim public places? ; How do women claim public places? ; What are the similar experiences regarding how different generation members claim public places, and what are the differences?
  6. What is the role of local government in creating a safe public place? ; What is the role of community organizations and community members, etc.?

As per the discussion in the program, the following expectations were shared by the younger generation:

  • Don't relate my friendship with the honor of the family.
  • Don't discriminate between son and daughter.
  • Respect our choices.
  • We should not be judged based on clothes.
  • Don't suppress our thought based on our age.
  • Do not take our access to the Internet negatively.
  • Don't control our mobility
  • Collect the information on our performance from school and guide us accordingly.
  • Ask the reason instead of shouting when our study degrades
  • Behave like a friend.
  • Do not use abusive language.
  • We should not be affected by family disputes (father and mother)
  • Do not impose menstrual restrictions.
  • Trust our decisions.
  • Remind us when we make a mistake instead of shouting.
  • Don't judge us by listening to others.

  Caption: Expectation of adolescent girls towards their parents. 

In these discussions, adolescent girls said that they had been sexually assaulted in public places. Still, they do not take any action due to fear of being mistreated by others, accusing them of being insulted and humiliated. They also said that the leadership of the girls is not taken seriously.  The issues faced by girls are also not taken seriously. They do not have access to gender-friendly health services. The problems of sexual and reproductive health cannot be discussed openly as there is no assurance of confidentiality.

Caption: First session of inter-generation dialogue at Navajyoti Sashakta Mahila Samudayik Sastha Beltar 

Further, the platform was created to exchange the knowledge of experiences among the generations. Mothers and women of previous generations explored their protest against violence and discrimination inside the home and in public space and the development of their agency. Likewise, girls also explored the generational gap and recognized the struggles of the previous generation. The sharing of the previous generation has accelerated the spirit and commitment of girls towards the campaign for equality. The previous generation has also realized the gap and committed to the joint effort for social transformation.

Caption: Adolescents girls discussing their expectations towards their parents, at Rauta Samudaya Hit Kendra which was also the first session of inter-generation dialogue

 Similarly, a joint action plan of community organizations, women, and adolescent groups has been formulated to address the issues identified by them in which they will create their networks on social media, refer the cases of violence against adolescents in public places to community organizations, run school education programs, conduct street dramas and rallies against violence in public places, discuss with the Area Police Office for safe and adolescent-friendly schools, interact on various issues monthly and submit attention letters to local stakeholders demanding safe public space issues. The methodology of sharing the experiences and knowing each other's gaps has become helpful to enhance leadership skill and responsibility in the new generation and plan jointly.