Germany-wide competition for prevention projects 3 clubs from District 29 as winners
Area 02/29: ZC Aachen and ZC Leverkusen | Area 05/29: ZC Siegen Area
The campaign …
With the initiative ‘cosnova says NO – together against violence against women’, founded in 2023, the cosmetics company cosnova and its brands essence and Catrice are actively campaigning against violence against women and girls.
From the very beginning, cosnova and the Union of German Zonta Clubs have worked in partnership on this important project.
In 2024, cosnova once again carried out a large-scale awareness campaign with popular brands, focussing on the prevention of violence, among other things.
In 2024, donations totalling 120,000 euros were available:
- 100,000 euros will once again go to the women’s refuge fund
- 20,000 euros went to Zonta prevention projects.
Winners from District 29
Area 2/29
ZC of Aachen | Firewalking – daring to take new steps/daring to change
Thanks to the financial support from Cosnova, one of Germany’s largest cosmetic companies, the Zonta Club Aachen is proud to announce the start of an experiential violence prevention project.
The project is run by the Caritas Aachen, a local branch of the national Catholic relief, development and social service organisation, and is aimed at young men up to 27 years of age who have either already been violent towards a partner or fear that this might happen in the future. The target group often behave in a macho manner and are convinced that male strength excludes the recognition of their own and others’ boundaries as well as the acceptance of help. Dynamics of violence in conflict situations are often triggered by the feeling of helplessness and the young men’s ability of self-control is often inadequate.
This situation is the starting point of the project which lasts for one and a half days. Supervised by a professional firewalker, the participants are asked to walk over fire or broken glass. This stressful situation and coping mechanisms will consequently be discussed in a protected setting. Fear and insecurity will be experienced as normal feelings/as ongoing-feelings. This extreme set of experiences can hence be connected to previously contradictory ways of perceptions: fear, positive confirmation, success and encouragement from others. Fear can be acknowledged and overcome, the one-sided concept of (physical)strength can be altered. A deeper sense of one’s own emotions, needs and limits can be created. Through self-awareness, the male participants can learn to take responsibility for themselves and their own behavior and separate violent behaviour from self-efficacy.
Following on from the workshop, participants will be offered the opportunity to continue working on their behaviour in relationships by joining the “Strong Without Violence” project, which is also run by Caritas Aachen.
Firewalking is the act of walking barefoot over a bed of hot embers or stones. It has been practiced by many people and cultures in many parts of the world, dating back 3000 years. Firewalking is often used as a rite of passage, as a test of strength and courage, and in religion as a test of faith.
ZC Leverkusen | Is this (still) Love?
Prevention Project against Violence in Teenage Relationships by Zonta Club Leverkusen and the Secondary School Leverkusen
© Photo: Pixabay
As part of the prevention project, around 90 students from the 9th grade of the Secondary School Leverkusen participate in half-day workshops on the topic “Is this (still) Love? – Violence in Teenage Relationships”. The girls participate in the program of our project partner Lobby für Mädchen e. V. within their class. They reflect on their first positive and negative experiences in relationships, are sensitized to various forms of violence, and learn to set and respect boundaries as well as de-escalate conflicts without violence. They also learn where and how to get help if they or others are affected by violence. The boys, meanwhile, take part in a workshop funded by the city of Leverkusen, which is thematically aligned with the girls’ program. At the end of the prevention project, the students come together in their classes and discuss the topics covered. This is moderated by the school social worker and a colleague.
With this project, Zonta Club Leverkusen aims to actively contribute to combating the increasing violence in partnerships. We believe it is important to reach young people at an age when they are shaping their first relationships, to help ensure these are characterized by love and mutual respect.
The project will take place for the second time in March 2025 and will be offered annually for the 9th grade.
For more information about Zonta Club Leverkusen and the project, please visit: https://zonta-leverkusen.de/node/23192
Area 5/29
ZC of Siegen Area | Project ‘#Say NO #Not with me’
© Photo: istock, Olesya22 | Zonta Club Siegen Area
What do teenagers show about themselves in the digital world? How do they present themselves on social media? Which images are okay, which should be avoided? Where are the dangers that lurk on the internet?
These and other questions are addressed by the prevention project #Say NO #Nicht mit mir, which is aimed at 8th class of all school types. It was developed by three partners from the region:
Partners and tasks
Project week at the schools | Communicating the content
- Counselling centre FOR GIRLS IN NEED (‘Mädchen in NOT’) Association for social work and culture
- Crime prevention of the Siegen-Wittgenstein police force
Creative follow-up
- Zonta Club Siegen Area | with ‘Friends of Zonta International e.V.’
The content of the individual project modules is the responsibility of the respective co-operation partners.
The central message of the project: ‘Say NO to sexualised VIOLENCE in digital media’.
Goals: Strengthen attitudes. set boundaries, engage in dialogue.
The project is aimed at several target groups: Directly: to young people of all genders of the 8th school classes. Indirectly: Teachers and parents, the public, network partners
Since the start of the project (4th project phase), around 480 young people of all genders in years 8 (pilot phase exceptionally in years 9) have been sensitised to the topic. A correspondingly large number of parents and school teachers have also been involved.
The project combines a cross-gender and gender-specific approach to young people in the various project phases.
A unique point: The ‘creative follow-up’ ensures sustainability
The ZC Siegen Area aims to ensure that the content of the project is not only ‘consumed’ by the target group, but also personally experienced and processed through artistic realisation. This increases sustainability.
At the same time, it opens up ways for all genders to make their voices heard. This encourages them to develop their own strategies and a strong stance – in the spirit of #Say NO! #Not with me!
