Be her Voice

The main objective of the Be Her Voice project was to support women and strengthen the role of young people and community educators in preventing and responding to intimate partner violence (IPV)....

The main objective of the Be Her Voice project was to support women and strengthen the role of young people and community educators in preventing and responding to intimate partner violence (IPV). A key focus was building the capacity of youth workers who support women at risk, by equipping them with tools for emotional literacy, inclusive communication, and knowledge of available referral services. At the same time, we aimed to help women recognize the signs of harmful relationships and feel more confident in seeking support. The project promoted civic engagement and solidarity by involving a broad mix of participants—including educators, civil society organizations, and the general public—in open conversations about IPV. Through a practical toolkit, public information materials, and a structured workshop model, we developed strategies that are both sustainable and adaptable to different contexts. Our goal extended beyond raising awareness; we wanted to give people the skills and confidence to take an active role in addressing the issue.

The Be Her Voice initiative combined national and international efforts through a structured and collaborative approach. Sunshine Kids launched the project with a kickoff meeting to align the partnership’s goals, followed by regular coordination meetings to ensure smooth implementation. We held transnational meeting in Patras where the members of both organizations Sunshine Kids and Balkan Bridge as youth workers were trained by Erifyli partner, by workshops and online seminars where we deepen and work out trought IPV, preparing the teams to conduct the Empowerment Workshops in each country, focusing on emotional literacy, recognizing intimate partner violence, and developing practical empowerment strategies. We developed the Scavanger Hunt and developed bunch of visual materials. Together with our partners, we created a digital toolkit and a personalized escape plan, both made accessible to the public through QR-coded posters and visual materials. Also, we developed a questioneer where everyone can check if the are, were or have a potential to be in a risk of IPV. A key final event in each country, brought together institutions, community members, and survivors to share insights and strengthen networks.

The project led to several meaningful and lasting outcomes, developed collaboratively by all three partner organizations. Together, we produced a multilingual toolkit containing practical resources for women at risk of intimate partner violence. This included a customizable safety plan and guidance on inclusive, respectful language. Each partner delivered local empowerment workshops, adapted to their specific communities. These sessions used emotionally safe, non-formal education to reach women effectively. A joint awareness campaign ran across borders, using coded posters and social media visuals to discreetly connect women with support services. Online seminars expanded the knowledge and skills of youth workers SK and BB teams. The final public event brought together survivors, institutions, and members of the wider community, strengthening civic involvement and opening space for continued dialogue. To maintain momentum, a follow-up podcast series is in development under the same project identity. It will continue to raise awareness, share survivor stories, and encourage public engagement across national boundaries.