Antrea Kosta, a project manager at the Advisory Center for the Support of the Family (SIKESO) said the role of NGOs must be complementary to state structures and policies as the issues that NGOs are often called upon to address are of fundamental importance for a well-off society.
She stated that SIKESO through the Helpline it offers, helps people who are facing different challenges.
She believes the use of new, alternative methods to inform and promote social and other issues.
«Discussions and events do not need to be held only in closed rooms to touch upon even such serious social issues as that of gender-based violence», she said.
About the actions and the challenges faced by SIKESO, we discussed in an interview granted by Andrea Costa to Voice International.
Question: We hear often enough from NGOs and other organisations that they are not suppose to replace the state but play a supportive role. What is the situation with SIKESO and its action?
Antrea Kosta: The Advisory Center for the Support of the Family (SIKESO) is a non-governmental organization that has been active since 2007. Since then, it has been operating in two directions. On the one hand, as an Advisory Center we have the Helpline (7000 11 10). Through this specific line and also through the world that knows our action, several cases of individuals and families who face special challenges reach us. Speaking of challenges, we refer to poverty, gender-based violence, social exclusion, social integration difficulties, racism.
At the same time with our action as an Advisory Center, we implement National and European programs. As an organization we make sure that the themes of our programs are aligned with our main priorities, for example gender equality issues, social integration, inclusion and diversity issues. As part of these programs we often organize workshops, trainings, seminars, events and various other activities.
Through our action we often make use of our wide range of partners consisting of policy makers, government authorities, local and national bodies, academic institutions, research institutes, other organizations and NGOs. The role of NGOs must be complementary to state structures and policies as the issues that NGOs are often called upon to address are of fundamental importance for a well-off society. These are issues that in many cases involve the violation or limitation of basic human rights and freedoms. That is why they should be a matter for the state itself. At the same time, these issues are so complex that they require a comprehensive policy to prevent and address them as well as adequate budgets to be able to effectively resolve them. The state cannot wait for problems like gender violence to be solved with interventions and programs from NGOs because it is basically like waiting for a Band-Aid to stop the bleeding.
Question: What kind of programs does SIKESO offer?
Antrea Kosta: At SIKΕSΟ, our action is national, pan-European and transnational. We have partners in Greece, Italy, Romania, France, Germany, Spain, Uganda, Malawi, Ghana, Kenya and many other countries. With our partners, we are united by the common understanding that all people in the world are equal regardless of gender, religion, origin, sexual orientation.
Each organization has its own specialization. Our own “particularity” is that we perceive and deal with all levels of action in life with a gender orientation.
For example, at the national level we have worked in the past with the National Addictions Authority to implement a training program for frontline workers on addictions and pregnancy issues. We also implement programs within the framework of the European Solidarity Corps, with the support of the Cyprus Youth Organization, such as the together program in which we visited structures hosting unaccompanied minor refugees and implemented actions to integrate and empower girls.
Some other examples are Erasmus+ programs. Such as “DiGE: Digit@lly Together for Gender Equality”, which we implement in collaboration with African countries and which concerns gender equality, the ENFEM program which concerns the social integration of immigrant women through the labor market and the HerStory program which highlights the offer of women in various European cities.
Finally, some other programs concern issues of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. Also, one of our programs will create a map application that will locate landmarks, statues and streets in European cities that relate to female figures in history, culture, arts and sciences. In this way we will shine a light on female role models that unfortunately remain in obscurity by increasing the visibility levels of women and empowering young men and women with fresh role models and with inclusive gender representations.
Question: Recently you presented an act, which was also presented in universities, squares and other places. What is its inspiration and what is its main message?
Antrea Kosta: The specific theatrical event took place within the framework of the Her Story program which is financed by the European Solidarity Corps and supported by the Cyprus Youth Organization.
The specific program aims to inform and raise awareness of society in matters of gender-based violence. At the same time, the main purpose of the project is to empower and destigmatize survivors of gender-based violence or even potential victims. Thus, within the framework of the program, real stories of gender-based violence were collected, either because the victims themselves shared their stories with us or through interviews with front-line workers, such as for example SPAVO workers or representatives of women’s organizations. Let us make it clear that these stories were handled in a very specific way and with absolute confidentiality and respect for personal data but also in hiding information in order to avoid the identification of the stories we were asked to handle.
We believe that the use of new, alternative methods is extremely useful. Discussions and events do not need to be held only in closed rooms to touch upon even such serious social issues as that of gender-based violence. So, we decided to go out into public spaces, squares and universities and process the stories of gender violence that we collected and present them through a theatrical action, without entrance, without chairs and formal halls. We have visited the University of Cyprus, Kitio Square in Larnaca, Limassol Pier, Faneromenis Square in Nicosia.
Question: What actions are you preparing in the near future?
Antrea Kosta: In the next period we are planning monthly meetings in Limassol related to parenthood. The specific program is called Parenthood Aid and is a project within the framework of the European Solidarity Corps. The aim of the program is to provide skills and information to new parents or people who wish to become parents in the future.
Free workshops with midwives, a psychologist, a pediatrician, a nutritionist and a gynecologist will be offered in the coming months. At the same time, there will be free children’s activities in the area so that parents can participate freely in the activities of the workshops.
You can follow us on our Social Media pages for more information about the Parenthood program, as well as to stay informed about our actions and to learn about free workshop and seminar opportunities.
Kallis Antounas-Voice International 2023
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