Di persone si tratta
Who
Italy, Padova, Equality Cooperativa Sociale Onlus and Associazione MIMOSA in secondary schools of Regione Veneto
Why
DI PERSONE SI TRATTA is a participatory activity meant to increase knowledge among young people, raise awareness on social issues and ultimately mediate conflicts between citizenship and marginalized people.It has been proposed for more than 10 years at secondary schools on the issues of prostitution, immigration crisis (asylum seeker migrants), religious and political radicalization, gender-based violence.Notoriously, the presence of street prostitution in inhabited centres is the source of social tensions and conflicts, which in the specifics of migrant prostitution intertwine with the conflicts generated by the presence of immigrants. This conflict does not always emerge in an evident way, even if it can sometimes be detected by the information disseminated by local newspapers and television. One of the important factors at the origin of this type of conflict is constituted by a scarce and superficial knowledge of the phenomenon, of its forms of manifestation, of the highlights describing
it, of the life conditions in which the people involved are found. We often tend to exaggerate the situation, on the one hand constructing a pietistic / victimistic image ("they are all slaves"),
on the other hand, assuming a moralist / judging position ("they are people who want to earn money easily"). These elements suggest that the citizenship need to be more aware and increase their knowledge of the phenomenon of migrant prostitution. In this sense, particular attention should be given to the youth groups. Hoped achievements, Offering a time and place to answer to the following needs:
- the interest and curiosity of young people to receive essential and meaningful information on a topic that arouses great interest and desire to "learn more", to get out of clichés and prejudices and to
feel able to freely express the discomfort that one lives connected to the presence of the street prostitution ;
-The need to relate to young people with a model of active citizenship, which participates in the understanding of the social dynamics of the phenomena;
- The need for a mediation of the conflict between the social actors who participate, although with very diversified roles.
- The need of young people not to feel passive spectators of a situation that induces insecurity and tension, sometimes prelude to closure, discrimination, violence and social marginalization;
-The need to consider the demand of sex work, transversely to the themes of sexuality and social relations, and the prevention of the demand as a subject of dialogue and discussion among young
people at school.
What
The project consists of a training module divided into 4 phases / 4 consecutive meetings (2h /meeting). The target-groups young people between 16-20.
How
First phase STIMULATION SESSION: Presentation of the group: all the participants present themselves by saying their name and providing information about their person (ice-breaking activity). The trainer, through specific group work techniques such as brainstorming, stimulates reflections and associations of ideas starting from the key word "prostitution".In this activity the trainer leaves maximum freedom of expression and association to the students, limiting himself to writing down on the blackboard words and phrases used by the students. At the same time, the animator notes the group
dynamics through observation grids. The trainer launches the second meeting.
Second phase FILM VISION - RESTITUTION AND REELABORATION
OF RESULTED CONTENTS: the restitution of the contents that emerged during the first meeting is provided by the trainer. The recognition of written words and phrases, in relation to the concepts expressed by the pupils in the first meeting, is accompanied by the video, integrating those aspects or contents which did not resulted from the brainstorming. The trainer launches the third phase of the project and asks students to organize in small groups.
Third phase ROLEPLAYING: the trainer explains the rules of the exercise of dramatization or behaviour simulation on the subject of "prostitution".The class is organized in small groups and the animator observes the group dynamics that emerge during the exercise.
Fourth phase SUMMARY OF WORK: the trainer summarizes the contents and dynamics of the work done with the single class and asks the students to express themselves freely on the topic through graphic works, written text, etc.
Effect/Assessment
Increased knowledge on the topic proposed that can be “assessed” through questionnaire before and after the involvement in the activity
When
At school during school semester
Resources
Structural resources: Classroom, Pc, screen, projector