Picture an Annual General Meeting (AGM) of horizont3000’s Mozambique office harmonising the serene tempos of Inhaca Island with vibrant discussions on gender equality; that's precisely what horizont3000 crafted—a gathering where dynamic training and profound gender awareness took the spotlight.
The AGM of horizont3000's office in Mozambique took place from the 23 to the 25 of November 2023 in Inhaca Island, Province of Maputo.
The AGM was attended by a committed ensemble of facilitators and Technical Advisors from various organisations and regions, all converging with a shared goal: to deepen their understanding of gender dynamics and empower local communities. In total 13 people participated, including the horizont3000 team Mozambique, Virginia Nicolau and Drucila Meireles (Guestspeakers from Maputo), and Sabine Selinger (horizont3000 office Vienna).
Maureen Obbayi, international gender expert of horizont3000, led the participants through a diverse three-day program. Sessions on gender awareness laid the groundwork, but it was the spontaneous, in-depth conversations that blossomed across mealtimes and leisure activities that truly defined the AGM's ethos. The fluidity of these discussions mirrored the nuanced and ever-evolving nature of gender itself.
The first day was characterised by three interactive group exercises:
Highlighting the first page, the Power Walk exercise illuminated the stark disparities influenced by social strata. Moving in response to statements that reflected privileges or lack thereof, participants intensely felt the realities that many face due to their societal roles—shedding light on the essential work ahead for horizont3000 and its partners.
Facilitator Drucila Meireles introduced a 'Gender Box' exercise, where participants could dissect gender stereotypes. The exercise propelled a critical examination of societal expectations and their impacts, urging a shift towards more inclusive mindsets.
New groups were formed and each group had to find the correct definition to common gender terms. After that, each group gave three practical examples for each definition. This exercise helped to gain a better understanding of relevant gender terms that are overall linked to each other.
To close the program on the first day, Maureen Obbayi gave a lecture on the duality of sex and gender through historical perspective, demonstrating the malleable nature of social constructs and the need for progressive thinking to advance gender equality. Furthermore, she explained different gender concepts and shared some relevant gender definitions.
On the second day, Virginia Nicolau, who is a Social worker in a psychiatric Hospital in Maputo, shared her lessons learned about sexual and reproductive health. In continuation, Drucila Mereiles, who works currently as a Technical Advisor for Terre des Hommes Schweiz, shared her experience within gender-based violence in Mozambique. Both guest speakers gave fruitful insights on how to put gender awareness into practice.
Before lunch break, Maureen took the chance to discuss with the group the topic “Do-Not-Harm”. Within all sessions, the power of communication underscored the clear role which dialogue plays in contributing to gender empowerment and understanding, especially in the intricate realms of sexual health and reproductive rights.
In the afternoon, Maureen introduced the topic gender mainstreaming and how to perform a gender analysis. Lelio and Sebastien supported her to facilitate this session as they have gained already some experience within that field. The afternoon ended with a group work, where three case studies were presented and based on them, the participants had to plan a gender analysis. The results were presented the next day in the morning session.
On the third day, Peter Tantius did a short presentation about the nobel prize winner “Claudia Goldin” and Maureen introduced a very important and sensitive topic: Safeguarding. Lais helped her to facilitate this session. As horizont3000 will soon have a policy about Safeguarding, the introduction to this topic was needed.
The AGM also provided opportunities for personal reflection and growth, leading to a stronger foundation for Advisors in their work. Workshops focused on resilience and carefulness held by Sabine Selinger on the last day in the afternoon offered vital tools, while echoes of Sabine's insightful discussions on adaptability and cultural empathy imbued the event with deep personal significance.
As the AGM drew to a close, a tangible sense of inspiration and resolve was palpable. The attendees, now a close-knit community of gender champions, left with renewed vigour to implement transformative strategies. The collaboration and learning experience would ripple through their enduring efforts, fostering change and shaping a more inclusive world.
