FROM 9 TO 12 OCTOBER 2022 THE LADIES UNION OF DRAMA IN OSLO, NORWAY WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE ACTIVE CITIZENS FUND PROGRAM’S BILATERAL RELATIONS

24 Oct FROM 9 TO 12 OCTOBER 2022 THE LADIES UNION OF DRAMA IN OSLO, NORWAY WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE ACTIVE CITIZENS FUND PROGRAM’S BILATERAL RELATIONS

The team of the Ladies’ Union of Drama – House of Open Hospitality (HOH), within the framework of the Bilateral Relations project of the Active citizens fund program traveled to Oslo, Norway, in order to hold a series of meetings with both government and civil society actors dealing with gender-based violence.
The president, Aliki Tsiamoura, accompanied by Sevasti Hatzifotiou, professor of social work at the Democritus University of Thrace, and Chrysa Kelaidis, program manager of the L.U.D. -Η.Ο.Η, from October 9 to 12, 2022, met with specialized agencies that have been pioneering for a number of years in the promotion of gender equality and the fight against gender-based violence.
The first meeting of the team took place at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and at the European Economic Area (EEA) grants office, where they were welcomed by the Senior Adviser, Ms Elin Linnestad. At their meeting, Ms. Linnestad was informed about the programs of the Ladies’ Union of Drama – H.O.H. and specifically for the “Helpline for Abused Children and Women”, a program funded in 2009 directly by the European Economic Area, “The mobile school travels” and “TIME TO TALK”, also programs funded by the European Economic Area with managers grant the Bodosaki Foundation and the Solidarity Now.
The second meeting took place at the organization Reform: Resource center for men, where the Direct, Mr. Are Saastad, welcomed them and informed them about the actions and work of their organization. The first day ended with the meeting of the group with the organization Alternative to Violence and the researchers – psychotherapists Inguun Rangun Askeland and Bente Lomo. This is an organization that made two educational trips to the Ladies’ Union of Drama to provide counseling services to people who engage in abusive behavior, as part of the “TIME TO TALK” project.
The second day started with the group meeting at the Ombudsman, Equality and Anti-discrimination Ombud for a discussion on equality and human rights. Finally, the trip ended with a visit to both the Social Kitchen and the Food Bank of Norway, with the aim of sharing good practices in the midst of the food crisis.
The Active citizens fund program enabled L.U.D.-H.O.H. through this trip to network with institutions in Norway with long-term experience and specialization on critical issues, with a view to further cooperation in future programs.
The projects “The Mobile School Travels” and “TIME TO TALK” are implemented within the framework of the Active citizens fund program, with the implementing body of the Ladies’ Union of Drama – House of Open Hospitality (HOH). The Active citizens fund program, amounting to €13.5 million, is financed by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway and is part of the financial mechanism of the European Economic Area (EEA) for the period 2014 – 2021, known as EEA Grants. The programs aims to strengthen and optimize the sustainability of civil society, as well to highlight its role in promoting democratic processes, strengthening citizens’ participation in society and defending human rights. The management of the grant of the Active citizens fund program for Greece has been undertaken jointly by the Bodosaki Foundation and the Solidarity Now. Read more here: www.activecitizensfund.gr