On May 23-26, 2013, volunteers of the "Elpis" club, as well as "newcomers" wishing to join our volunteer club, had the opportunity to participate in two training sessions within the project "Prevention of Human Trafficking with Consideration of Gender Aspects among Student Youth of Brest." Over four days, we were trained and shared experience by Irina Volkova, Deputy Chairperson of the NGO "Club of Business Women," who simultaneously formed a new team. The first training, held on May 23-24, was aimed at preparing volunteers to conduct educational events for forming gender culture among youth; the goal of the second training, held on May 25-26, was to prepare volunteers to conduct preventive measures against human trafficking with consideration of gender aspects based on the principle of "peer teaching peer." The trainings were held at the dormitory of the UO "BrSU named after A.S. Pushkin." The opening took place with the direct participation of L.N.
Read more »

On September 24, 2013, the opening of the photo exhibition "Two Sides of Foreign Lands" took place at the main building of the UO "Brest State University named after A.S. Pushkin." This event was organized by the volunteer detachment "Elpis" as part of the UN project "Club of Business Women" "Counteracting Human Trafficking with Gender Aspect Consideration among Student Youth in Brest." The photo exhibition was aimed at drawing the attention of young people to current problems associated with traveling abroad. Therefore, the exhibition displayed two aspects: positive experience of going abroad (photos of young people who had successful experience staying abroad for the purpose of study, tourism, legal employment, etc., were demonstrated) and negative experience – the result of hasty and ill-considered actions.
Read more »

The next photo exhibition "Two Sides of Abroad" was held on October 18, 2013, on the European Day against Human Trafficking in the lobby of the main building of the Educational Institution "Brest State Technical University". This was the second photo exhibition within the framework of the project "Prevention of Human Trafficking with Gender Aspect among Students of Brest" by the NGO "Club of Business Women". The photo exhibition aimed to draw young people's attention to current issues related to traveling abroad. Therefore, the exhibition displayed two aspects: positive experience of traveling abroad (photos of young people who had successful experiences of staying abroad for study, tourism, legal employment, etc.) and negative experience – the result of hasty and rash actions (staged photos were shown, depicting the problem of people in its various manifestations – labor exploitation, sexual exploitation, organ trafficking, child trafficking).
Read more »

Often, when traveling abroad (for tourism and leisure, work, study, etc.), many prefer to believe in the best, that nothing can happen to them, and they are excited about the upcoming trip and new experiences. Completely forgetting about possible dangers, people boldly "guess their fates"... With another bright event, the volunteer club "Elpis" came to students of Brest State Technical University. On October 31, 2013, an action took place in dormitory No. 1 of BSSTU as part of the project "Prevention of Human Trafficking with Gender Aspect among Students of Brest." The event was called "Panned or Lost." The goal of this event was to draw students' attention to the problem of human trafficking and develop a safe algorithm of actions when traveling abroad.
Read more »

On December 4, the "Elpis" club volunteers held an "Islands" action for students of the UO "Brest State Regional College of Olympic Reserve." The goal of the action was to reinforce knowledge gained during work at the institution in the form of an interactive game. The students were divided into 5 teams. Each team was given a route sheet. The premises were also divided into 5 working zones. Each zone – "island" – was represented by a volunteer consultant who assigned participants specific tasks, including situations, exercises, and questions on the topic of combating human trafficking with consideration for gender aspects. For every correct answer or completed exercise, participants received monetary units. During the game, the participating team had to follow a route through 5 islands. The final stage of the game was an auction, where prize lots were raffled off.
Read more »

On December 26th, the volunteer club organized an unusual mini-game event called "Charades 'Crocodile' Abroad'" for students of the G. Shirma Music College at the Disco Club (May 1st City Park). The mini-event was held as part of the UN project "Club of Business Women" titled "Counteracting Human Trafficking with Gender Aspect Consideration among Students in Brest." The goal of the event was to draw young people's attention to the problem of human trafficking and develop a correct algorithm of actions when traveling abroad. On the first stage of the event, volunteers played "Find a Pair." Participants were divided into two teams that competed in speed and accuracy. Volunteers attached half of a rule concerning safe travel abroad to each participant's back. Moving randomly to music, they had to find the continuation (beginning or end) of their phrase on the backs of other participants. Then, the participants lined up in pairs and recited their rules.
Read more »

On May 21-22, a training seminar for volunteers of the "Elpis" club titled "The 'Forum Theatre' Technology as a Tool for Expanding Resources in the Field of Social Problems" took place at Dormitory No. 4 of the UO "Brest State University named after A.S. Pushkin." This event was organized within the framework of the IOM initiative "Theatre Technologies in Counteracting Human Trafficking." The seminar leader was Pavel Vinogradov. To date, the most effective method for preventing social problems among youth is the "Forum Theatre" technology. Forum theatre is an interactive practicum-game that involves the opportunity to experiment, search for new ways to solve a problem, and develop models of safe behavior by having the audience play out various life situations. As a result of the event, 20 volunteers improved and gained knowledge in "Forum Theatre" technology, independently developing and creating scenarios for combating human trafficking.
Read more »

As part of the initiative "Theatrical Technologies in Combating Human Trafficking," volunteers from the "Elpis" club launched an advertisement campaign in five educational institutions in Brest: "This autumn-winter, the 'Elpis' volunteer club will come to you!" We remind you that according to the initiative, volunteers will hold 5 events using the "forum theater" technique, along with an exhibition of photos titled "Two Sides Abroad," and 5 mini-trainings on combating human trafficking. You can watch the video here.
Read more »

October 18, 2014 in the dormitory No. 4 of the educational institution "BrSU named after. A.S. Pushkin" volunteers of the Elpis club made their debut with the forum theater "In the Web of the Internet". Volunteers performed a small production consisting of five scenes with a tragic ending. The main task of the audience was to ensure that the tragedy did not occur in the future. To do this, in each scene they could replace one of the actors and replay the scene in their own way. The participants were happy to get involved in the process of playing the scenes, and the presenters were consistently provided with reliable information about the rules for safe travel and stay abroad. Here is what one of the participants said at the end of the event: “Forum Theater” is convenient because we can simulate a situation that may occur in our lives, but unlike reality, we can make adjustments and see how best to act, which means changing the model of our behavior at one time or another.
Read more »

On October 25, 2014, volunteers of the Elpis club held the next forum-theater “In the Web of the Internet” at the educational establishment “Brest State Industrial and Technical Complex of Instrument Engineering”. The participants proposed various options for getting out of the current situation. Particular attention was paid to re-enacting the situation of a worthy refusal. During the process of replacing actors with participants and discussing the presenter, information was provided on the rules for safe travel and stay abroad.
Read more »

On November 21, 2014, volunteers of the Elpis club held a forum-theater “In the Web of the Internet” with a showing of the photo exhibition “Two Sides of Abroad” at the BrGPL Builders Establishment. Thanks to the fact that volunteers carry out their activities according to the principle of “peer teaching peer,” the participants were able to relax, get used to their roles and offer options for getting out of the most seemingly hopeless situation.
Read more »

On December 1, 2014, on World AIDS Day, volunteers of the Elpis club held a pantomime event “I care, what about you?” in the dormitory No. 4 of the educational institution "BrSU named after. A.S. Pushkin." The purpose of the action was to draw students' attention to the problem of HIV infection and show its relevance. Volunteers came in the form of silent mimes with posters reflecting current information. Volunteers also drew attention to the gender aspect of the problem and tried to convey to students that both boys and girls are equally responsible for their health and the health of their partner.
Read more »

December 16, 2014, the “theater season” of the Elpis volunteer club ended. The last forum-theater “In the Web of the Internet” was held on the basis of dormitory No. 3 of the educational institution “BrSTU”. Our volunteers love to hold events in this educational institution, because... students tend to show genuine interest in the issues that volunteers address. And this time was no exception.
Read more »

On December 23, 2014, the results of the initiative “Theatrical Technologies in Combating Human Trafficking” were held in a warm, friendly atmosphere. Volunteers reached 909 young people with their activities. Volunteers noted that the “forum theater” technology is the most effective preventive form of work with young people, since they have the opportunity to integrate themselves into the course of the performance, play and change the situation. Therefore, it is advisable to use theatrical technologies in further work with young people to combat human trafficking on the principle of “peer teaching peer” with the involvement of the volunteer resource “Elpis”.
Read more »