School Group Networking Program
Since 2002, Arcigay has collaborated with schools and local authorities to create workshops and training programs on anti-bullying, deconstructing gender stereotypes, and understanding sexual identity. The goal is to facilitate the self-development of LGBTI youth, make schools an inclusive and protected environment, train students to approach all types of diversity, and provide adults with tools to combat all forms of discrimination and bullying in the school environment and beyond.
In 2015, a process of programming, harmonization and progressive networking of activities was started, so as to structure uniform training programs across the country with the same quality standards. Schoolmates is a stable and structured national program born with this ambition.
The results achieved in the 2015/2016 school year were importantIn 619 workshops and meetings at schools, we met nearly 22,000 students*, while in those for teachers and parents, we met approximately 1,000 adults. The activities were designed and led by more than 300 volunteers across the country, who collectively donated more than 2,000 hours of their time.
However, some areas of the country, often the most difficult for the lives of young LGBTI people, still remain "uncovered", Sometimes because there is a lack of Arcigay committees, sometimes because even when they exist, their resources are too limited to deal with difficult situations. Furthermore, the actions of the so-called "no-gender" homophobic and transphobic movement are creating a climate of real hostility in many contexts towards LGBTI people and towards any action in support of them and gender equality.
Objectives and activities
Objectives and activities The program specifications are therefore:
- Consolidate and disseminate a consistent intervention model across all Arcigay associations with new materials that can be used even in situations of limited local resources: Produce a new manual with theoretical updates on bullying, sexual identity, and gender stereotypes, as well as practical guidance with tools and guided exercises to design new workshops and empower all volunteers in the area.
- structure ongoing training courses for volunteers: Develop ongoing training programs (both residential and online) to provide Arcigay volunteers in the local area with specific skills, refresh the knowledge they have acquired over the years, and update the tools available to meet the emerging needs of students and schools. This program also enables them to act more effectively in contexts where the so-called "anti-gender" movement has created a climate of hostility;
- design training courses for professionals in contact with adolescents: Develop informational workshops for school and extracurricular staff and parents to deconstruct stereotypes related to sexual identity, recognize and address bullying situations, and provide them with the tools to appropriately relate to all types of diversity;
- Build and activate a permanent system for monitoring and reporting homophobia and transphobia in schools, in synergy with the programs StayAPP! And #MaQualeGender, thanks to partnerships with student associations, students themselves, and where possible schools and institutions.
If you want to request an intervention in your school (workshops or assemblies), contact one of the 73 Arcigay offices closest to you or write to [email protected] specifying the city, school and type of intervention requested.
Schoolmates currently does not have funding for its own organic implementation, but has been partially implemented thanks to annual networking projects with other organizations funded by the MIUR (Ministry of Education, University and Research) (“National Network of Schools Against Discrimination,” “Stop Cyberbullying,” and “What is Love”).
School Group Networking Program
Since 2002, Arcigay has collaborated with schools and local authorities to create workshops and training programs on anti-bullying, deconstructing gender stereotypes, and understanding sexual identity. The goal is to facilitate the self-development of LGBTI youth, make schools an inclusive and protected environment, train students to approach all types of diversity, and provide adults with tools to combat all forms of discrimination and bullying in the school environment and beyond.
In 2015, a process of planning, harmonizing, and progressively networking activities was initiated, so as to structure consistent training programs across the country with consistent quality standards. Schoolmates is a stable and structured national program born with this ambition.
The results achieved in the 2015/2016 school year were significant: in the 619 workshops and meetings held at schools, we met nearly 22,000 students*, while in the sessions for teachers and parents, we met approximately 1,000 adults. The activities were designed and led by more than 300 volunteers nationwide, who collectively donated more than 2,000 hours of their time.
However, some areas of the country, often the most challenging for LGBTI youth, remain "uncovered," sometimes because Arcigay committees are lacking, sometimes because even when they exist, their resources are too limited to address challenging situations. Furthermore, the actions of the so-called "anti-gender" homophobic and transphobic movement are creating a climate of outright hostility in many places toward LGBTI people and any action supporting them and gender equality.
The specific objectives and activities of the program are therefore:
- Consolidate and disseminate a consistent intervention model across all Arcigay associations with new materials that can be used even in situations of limited local resources: Produce a new manual with theoretical updates on bullying, sexual identity, and gender stereotypes, as well as practical guidance with tools and guided exercises to design new workshops and empower all volunteers in the area.
- structure ongoing training courses for volunteers: Develop ongoing training programs (both residential and online) to provide Arcigay volunteers in the local area with specific skills, refresh the knowledge they have acquired over the years, and update the tools available to meet the emerging needs of students and schools. This program also enables them to act more effectively in contexts where the so-called "anti-gender" movement has created a climate of hostility;
- design training courses for professionals in contact with adolescents: Develop informational workshops for school and extracurricular staff and parents to deconstruct stereotypes related to sexual identity, recognize and address bullying situations, and provide them with the tools to appropriately relate to all types of diversity;
If you want to request an intervention in your school (workshops or assemblies), contact the Arcigay office closest to you or write to [email protected] specifying the city, school and type of intervention requested.
Schoolmates currently does not have funding for its own organic implementation, but has been partially implemented thanks to annual networking projects with other organizations funded by the MIUR (Ministry of Education, University and Research) (“National Network of Schools Against Discrimination,” “Stop Cyberbullying,” and “What is Love”).
