Our Partner Project: Change Starts Now – 2024-3-LV02-KA152-YOU-000266537

From April 18 to 25, 2025, the Change Starts Now (2024-3-LV02-KA152-YOU-000266537) project took place in Riga, Latvia, bringing together young people from across Europe to raise awareness about gender-based violence, empower youth action, and promote cross-cultural dialogue.

Participants from Romania, Latvia, Turkey, Spain, and Austria joined this week-long youth exchange, with a total of 40 young people, equally split between men and women. Among them, 15 participants faced social or economic barriers, highlighting the project’s commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity.

Change Starts Now was more than a youth exchange—it was a movement for awareness and action. The main goals included:

Raising Awareness About Violence Against Women: Participants learned about the forms, causes, and consequences of violence, helping increase societal sensitivity toward these issues.

Empowering Youth to Take Action: Through workshops and educational activities, young people gained skills and tools to become advocates for gender equality in their own communities.

Fostering Cross-Cultural Dialogue: Young people from different countries exchanged experiences, perspectives, and best practices, strengthening intercultural understanding.

Developing Lifelong Learning Skills: Leadership, teamwork, creativity, and critical thinking skills were nurtured to support future activism and professional growth.

Promoting Gender Equality in Youth Work: The project encouraged inclusive approaches, empowering youth workers and participants to integrate gender-sensitive practices in their communities.

Highlights from the Activities

The project combined educational, creative, and symbolic activities to engage participants deeply:

Info Session: Violence, Femicide & Gender Equality – Introduced key concepts and global perspectives on gender-based violence.

Paint It Orange! – Participants, together with local community members, released balloons carrying photos of women victims of femicide, symbolizing the lives lost.

Poster Making Workshop – Young people reflected on what these women could have achieved, creating posters for awareness campaigns.

Femicide Issues Symposium – Participants presented femicide cases from their home countries, highlighting the global nature of the issue.

Blood Wedding Theater Performance – Federico García Lorca’s Blood Wedding was performed, allowing local audiences to reflect on themes of violence through art.

Honoring Women's Rights Panel – Local authorities joined discussions on legal measures to prevent violence and femicide.

As KUFF Refugees and Minorities Solidarity Association, we were proud to contribute actively. The Spanish team led workshops, shared examples of gender equality advocacy, and collaborated in creating Femicide Facts Brochures for awareness dissemination.

Our participants now carry the knowledge and inspiration gained from Riga back to their communities, fostering social change and peer education. We believe this project is not just a week-long event, but the beginning of a long-lasting movement for gender equality.

Impact and Legacy

Change Starts Now empowered young people with knowledge, skills, and confidence to challenge harmful norms and actively promote gender equality. Participants are now running local campaigns, organizing awareness events, and advocating for women’s rights in their communities.

At KUFF, we trust in the creativity and energy of youth to build a future free from violence, where equality and justice prevail.