Pioneers of progression in their respective environments - Transgenerational feminist learning

"Sometimes I wonder if all this activism makes sense, which does not give me peace and forces me to change society in my community. Sometimes, for example, when a bottom tabloid publishes an interview with a rapist. Or when a woman is killed by her (former) partner. Then, I step back and think that change is an illusion. And then life sends me to these wonderful young women who face a much more difficult task: changing their small environments in Novi Pazar, Vranje, Čačak, etc. And then I realised that today they would not be aware that they have to fight for non-violence, for menstrual products, for the right to education about reproductive health, had we not provided them with a safe space to do this, giving them support and wind at their backs. Just as some women before us, who changed the patriarchy, gave us," shared Milica Ličina Čalija, collecting impressions about this event and the importance of transgenerational memory and remembering feminist struggles.

Throughout the generations, women have faced different challenges and fought for their rights, creating a rich legacy intertwined with their path of individual empowerment. Transgenerational feminist learning is a critical concept that emphasises the importance of passing on these valuable lessons to empower and inspire new generations of women.

Knowledge about feminism as a means of Heritage Preservation

The mentoring process within the initiative "With and for Girls" is dedicated to a deeper understanding of how women's experience is transmitted over time and how mentoring and support of experienced and successful individuals can contribute to the development of feminist consciousness among younger women. In this way, knowledge about feminism becomes a means of preserving heritage and a key mechanism for continuously strengthening women's solidarity and activism. The added value of creating the mentoring program lies in the complete autonomy of the representatives of individual clubs to choose their allies, who inspire them every day and from whom they want to learn. Thus, the two-day mentoring program in Novi Sad was attended by Iva Parađanin, journalist and founder of the first feminist podcast in Serbia - Tampon Zona, then Milica Ličina Čalija, entrepreneur and founder of the brand "Anđeli", Emilija Milenković, youth activist and founder of the organisation "Our the world of our rules" and one of the leaders of the "Students against violence-Fight" movement, as well as representatives of the Women's Initiative from Novi Sad, Jelena Mirić, Milica Sekulić and Jovana Mrdalj.

The mentors noticed a desire for change among the youth activists. Despite countless problems, they still organize rational steps and start solving them. "We constantly talk about the problems that surround us, and now I finally see young girls talking and advocating for realistic solutions," said Emilija Milenković after the mentoring session.

“What can all these girls achieve!? They are surrounded by excellent facilitators from the NGO Atina, and they bravely explore these topics and prepare to take serious action! Now that they are networked, they are even stronger and up for supporting each other and creating positive changes in their local communities," adds Jelena Mirić, representative of the Women's Initiative from Novi Sad, a pioneer in advocating the introduction of free menstrual products in schools and colleges.

Iva Parađanin sees the girls she met as part of mentoring "as pioneers of progression in their communities." She also believes that the girls gathered around the initiative "With and for Girls" have a lot of ideas, motivation, and enthusiasm to offer that should be absorbed.

This news was created as part of the project "Initiative of young feminist advocates in Serbia", which has been implemented by the Citizens' Association Atina with the support of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Belgrade, in cooperation with the organisation Schüler Helfen Leben (SHL).