Beyond Silence

Main aim: to address the pressing issue of domestic violence among young women by providing them with support, empowerment, and opportunities for personal growth. The project also seeks to equip youth workers with the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources to effectively support and advocate for these young women.

Objectives:

To provide a safe and inclusive environment for young women who have experienced domestic violence to share their stories, express themselves, and heal from their trauma.
To empower young women by fostering self-esteem, self-confidence, and resilience through workshops, mentoring, and creative activities.
To equip youth workers with a comprehensive understanding of domestic violence, including its causes, effects, and available support systems.
To enhance the skills of youth workers in providing appropriate and effective support to young women who have experienced domestic violence.
To develop a toolkit and training materials for youth workers, providing them with practical strategies and resources to support young women in their communities.

Activities:

Kick-off meeting in France, Strasbourg | April 2024

The project started with a kick-off meeting in Strasbourg on 27 April 2024 with 6 participants, where partner organisations introduced the project, discussed its objectives and planned the implementation of upcoming activities. During the meeting partners defined roles and responsibilities and established a common approach to addressing domestic violence issues.

International training in Romania, Bucharest | April 2025

An international training in Bucharest on 1–5 April 2025, brought together 17 youth workers from partner organisations to explore practical ways of supporting young women affected by domestic violence and strengthening prevention and awareness activities.Participants explored practical tools, shared experiences and discussed real challenges faced in their work. The training also contributed to improving their ability to raise awareness and provide support in their communities.

Creative therapeutic activities in Turkey, Izmir | November 2024

Creative therapeutic activities were organised in Izmir on 22–26 November 2024, bringing together 20 youth workers from partner organisations to explore artistic and expressive methods for supporting young women affected by domestic violence. These activities helped participants develop emotional resilience, communication skills and a sense of empowerment.

Advocacy conference in Lithuania, Vilnius | May 2024

A conference was organised in Lithuania, Vilnius on 19 May 2025, to raise awareness about the impact of domestic violence on young women. 103 people attended the conference. Youth workers, educators and other stakeholders discussed prevention strategies and the important role youth workers play in supporting vulnerable groups.

Public awareness activities

Project partners organised awareness-raising activities in their local communities to highlight the impact of domestic violence on young women. These initiatives included discussions, workshops and collaboration with local organisations to strengthen support networks.

Expected results:

Empowerment and improved well-being of young women who have experienced domestic violence.
Enhanced knowledge and skills of youth workers, enabling them to provide more effective support and advocacy for young women.
Increased awareness and understanding of domestic violence among the community, leading to reduced stigma and increased reporting of incidents.
Creation of a network of empowered young women and trained youth workers, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing beyond the duration of the project.
Long-term sustainability of the project outcomes through the dissemination of materials, ongoing training, and partnerships with local organizations and institutions.

Project outputs

The project produced several educational resources aimed at supporting youth workers and young women affected by domestic violence. These outputs include a toolkit for youth workers, training materials and an informational booklet designed to raise awareness and provide practical support.

This project is funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ program, supporting education, training, youth, and sports initiatives across Europe.