By the professor of the Democritus University of Thrace, Sevasti Chatzifotiou

In the context of the new “Time to Talk” project, the first online training of the staff and volunteers of Drama Ladies Union-House of Open Hospitality was held on Monday, March 28.

The instructor was the Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work of Democritus University of Thrace, Ms. Chatzifotiou Sevasti. The training related to “domestic violence and child abuse: the interventions of social work in child protection”. This training included the theoretical approach of the domestic violence phenomenon.

In particular, several forms of violence were presented in detail: physical, psychological, verbal, economic, sexual and cultural, as well as the consequences of each form on the person who suffers them. Particular emphasis was given on the social causes of the phenomenon, the patriarchal structures that create and perpetuate gender discrimination and the emerging issue of feminicides. In addition, Ms. Hatzifotiou made an introduction to some basic guidelines that front line professionals must follow, a topic that will be presented in detail in the second online training. Moreover, Ms. Chatzifotiou will be the instructor of the interactive seminars that will take place at the Drama Ladies Union-House of Open Hospitality in April and May 2022, for students of 9 educational units of the Municipality of Drama, with the purpose of informing and raising awareness on emerging forms of online gender-based violence.

The “Time to Talk” project started in December 2021 and has a duration of 14 months. It aims at training Drama Ladies Union-House of Open Hospitality on how to support a gender-based violence abuser. The Norwegian organization “Alternative to Violence” with 30 years experience in supporting the abuser of gender-based violence will train the staff of Drama Ladies Union-House of Open Hospitality, as well as representatives of the Police of Drama and the Social Services of the Prefecture of Drama on how to manage the abuser and combat the causes of abuse. In addition, a university research for emerging forms of online violence will be carried out by the cooperating Universities, i.e. University of Peloponnese, University of West Attica and Democritus University of Thrace, whereas the project’s website will be updated and an online game will be created. Lastly, face-to-face informative workshops will be held with students.

“Time to Talk” is implemented in the context of the Active citizens fund program, with Drama Ladies Union-House of Open Hospitality as implementation body. The €13.5 million Active Citizens Fund program is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway and is part of the European Economic Area (EEA) financial mechanism for the period 2014 – 2021, known as EEA Grants. The program aims at fortifying and strengthening the sustainability of civil society and at highlighting 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 jointly undertaken by the Bodossaki Foundation and SolidarityNow. For more information: www.activecitizensfund.gr

PRESS OFFICE OF THE DRAMA LADIES UNION-HOUSE OF OPEN HOSPITALITY