Hi everyone! My name is Sonia, I’m 17, and I come from Ukraine!

This summer I had the privilege of participating in (RE)Defining Equality, which has completely overhauled my life. It shaped me and changed my worldview so deeply that I won’t be able to look at this world the same ever again. It’s hard to believe that everything I experienced was real.

Over 2 weeks, we explored the concept of equality in depth - redefining it, reflecting on our personal experiences, and engaging in thought-provoking discussions and debates with like-minded individuals. I discovered so many new perspectives: different cultures and worldviews, religions, socio-economic and political contexts; looking at topics ranging from gender, anti-racism, migration, environmental justice and more. And all of this while learning to respect each other and debate an opinion, not a person. We learned how to make sure those around us don’t feel excluded.

Beyond the fascinating workshops, I found wonderful friends from all over the world! People who listened without judgment, shared their stories, and supported each other through laughter and tears. We spent our time dancing, singing "Bohemian Rhapsody", laughing, crying, and constantly learning so much from each other! 

We also didn’t study all day long. We were treated as adults, so we could explore the city, visit local markets, bookshops, thrift-stores, coffee-shops, even the waterfall, all by ourselves!

One day, we visited a museum in Innsbruck, focused on various kinds of social inequality. I still remember the terrifying feeling I had when I saw a “syringe for illegal abortion” that had actually been used on women. We were told that a young farmhand attempted to end his girlfriend's pregnancy by injecting her with toxic chemicals using this homemade wooden syringe. The girl survived seriously injured; nothing is known about the child. I remember feeling sleepy after an all-night talk with new friends, but that moment woke me up completely. It struck me that equality isn’t an abstract concept, it’s about human lives, dignity, and the right to choose. On a feedback postcard I wrote my reflection and left it in the museum: “Now I see why fighting for equality is essential. My body - my choice.” That’s what I learned.

Another day, we went swimming in a freezing mountain lake in the Alps (which was spectacular!). After, we took the funicular up even higher and descended from the Alpine Coaster Imst at 3,535 meters – the second-longest in Europe.

On the second to last day, we went through a Labyrinth of Memories. This became the day that interlinked us as a family. We entered a room that was set up as a labyrinth, each station decorated with candles, blankets and a question that invited us to reflect on our life. I can't put into words what happened in that mysterious room. We looked at our lives from a new perspective, at times crying, and others sleeping or lost in deep reflection. At the last station, everyone wrote on the board a thought for the group and the path ahead. They were the most sincere I've ever read and each resonated with me with a huge echo. In that moment, I felt a connection stronger than words – the realization that, no matter how different we are, we all long for the same things: to be seen, understood, and accepted.

Another moment I’ll never forget was the last evening, when we were tying Compliment Strings around each other’s hands. All 40 participants and the organizers gave each other the most sincere compliments, while tying a ribbon around our arm. I have never received such compliments in my whole life! I personally cried for 4 hours while we did this. This experience truly touched my soul.

During the Cultural evening we tried unfamiliar to me delicacies for the first time: real tiramisu from Italy that just melts in your mouth, Baklava from Lebanon, Yogurt with seeds from Estonia, Tea from Morocco, Cake and Waffles from Spain, Chocolate from Finland, Sauces from Macedonia, and more! We also gifted each other lots of souvenirs, flags, postcards from our home countries. Furthermore, we wore our traditional clothes, learned traditional dances from many cultures, and sang hymns together.

I want to be fair, everything wasn’t as smooth and perfect as it might seem. It was a tough journey, during which we were constantly redefining ourselves in this big world. Halfway through the course I had a mental breakdown. Everything was new and overwhelming: the pace, the depth of discussions, the number of perspectives. I realized how much I didn’t know about this world, and that thought crushed me. That evening, I cried alone in my room, and it shaped me into the person I am today. My roommate Greta came to help me (love her so much!). She listened, spoke exactly the words I needed to hear at that moment, and somehow made me feel human again. That was when I realized: equality also means allowing yourself to be vulnerable and still being accepted.

During the last days of the course we dedicated our time to planning a post-course project to implement in our own communities, to share the knowledge we have gained! Vika and I came up with a wonderful idea for a “Gender Inequality Workshop”.

I am very excited to share that a couple of days ago I hosted my Gender Inequality Workshop in Kharkiv! Kharkiv city is 50km from the front line, and every day people face struggles due to Russian shelling. Honestly, it was my first public speaking experience, so I was extremely nervous about what to say and how to act. My main goal was to give people an environment of complete acceptance where they could freely express their thoughts - just like we had in Austria. Maybe someone has never even had such an opportunity to discuss these important topics.

Even during an air alarm, people came. We talked about gender roles and how they formed, equality vs. equity, gender stereotypes, feminism and how it benefits men, domestic violence, influence on various spheres of life: politics, economy, wages, education. Finally, we explored what we, as youth, can do to fight for equality.

While developing the workshop, I reflected on all the knowledge and stories I had gained from the course and transformed them into interactive activities for my workshop. I included exercises inspired by the short course, such as “Unequal Start”, where participants take steps forward depending on the privileges of their assigned role, “Circle of Expectations”, where everyone shares what is expected of them as a boy/girl and something that doesn’t fit these expectations; and “Coffee Break”.

Additionally, I created «Promise» postcards with an empowering quote: “As long as I’m alive, I can begin again and again and again and again”. Each participant wrote their own personal promise. I believe this encourages people to take action after the workshop!

My friend was the photographer during the event, and when she sent me these photos, I saw people smiling and realized – everything had actually gone well!💫

~ Participant Feedback from the Gender Equality Workshop

I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who encouraged me and took part in creating this event! Without your support, I wouldn’t have dared to make this happen!

Without any doubt, these 2 weeks were the best of my entire life — a life-changing experience! I am eternally grateful for this enriching and open-minded experience. Every time I reread the letters people wrote to me at the end, I realize how privileged I am to have received them and to recall the spectacular memories I brought back home! We learned how to be ourselves, regardless of anything. This short course has instilled complete acceptance in each of us! A huge thank you to the best organizers and facilitators team ever for shaping my worldview with all the valuable knowledge you shared❤️

If anyone is reading this and wondering whether they should apply – my genuine advice is: definitely YES!