To alleviate the impacts of COVID-19 policies, many initiatives have been developed by civil society organisations – NGOs, local governments, or citizens. A team of national researchers from the RESISTIRÉ project has collected and highlighted a set of particularly relevant initiatives in 27 European countries and in Iceland, Serbia, the United Kingdom and Turkey. These Better Stories cover eight specific domains: gender-based violence, the labour market, the economy, gender-pay and pension gaps, gender care gaps, decision-making and politics, environmental justice, human and fundamental rights.

This Better Story was collected by Catarina Sales de Oliveira

ReAJo – Autonomy Response for LGBTI Youth is the pioneer autonomy flat dedicated to young lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or intersex (LGBTI) individuals in Portugal.

A tailored solution for young adults

This initiative aims to fulfill the recognized requirement for safe living spaces for LGBTI youth who find themselves compelled to leave their family homes. During engagements with this demographic under Casa QUI WAS, the first Portuguese NGO to establish a support service for victims within this specific group, the team identified this pressing necessity. Frequently, these young individuals encounter situations of conflict and violence in their households, necessitating an urgent departure. Those without employment often struggle to secure housing and financial assistance, with no applicable state programms available. This response was tailored for individuals aged between 16 and 23 years old. Launched in 2019, the cases followed thus far predominantly involve young adults above 18 years old, typically aged between 18 and 21, of both genders.

A future plan to expand the rooms

Currently comprising two flats, with an additional two flats soon to be added, ReAJo offers two single rooms for stays of up to 6 months (for job search purposes) and two single rooms for stays of up to 2 years (for pursuing educational projects). While the flat was inaugurated in 2019, it began accommodating young individuals only in 2020. The initiative is in the process of expanding the number of housing units and anticipates having an additional 12 rooms by the end of 2023.

Picture by Freepik

Find out more about the initiative

To alleviate the impacts of COVID-19 policies, many initiatives have been developed by civil society organisations – NGOs, local governments, or citizens. A team of national researchers from the RESISTIRÉ project has collected and highlighted a set of particularly relevant initiatives in 27 European countries and in Iceland, Serbia, the United Kingdom and Turkey. These Better Stories cover eight specific domains: gender-based violence, the labour market, the economy, gender-pay and pension gaps, gender care gaps, decision-making and politics, environmental justice, human and fundamental rights.

This Better Story was collected by Marloes van Engen

Challenges faced by transgender people during the pandemic

COVID-19 had several consequences for transgender people around the world. There are several studies that have investigated the effects of covid on transgender people. One such study is the TransCareCovid-19 study. This is a study in which 7,000 transgender people from all over the world participated. Almost half of participants who are already in treatment reported that access to care has become more limited. Those registered as male at birth and those with low incomes had an even higher risk of limitations in transgender care.

According to Transvision’s website, There were 355 participants from Flanders and the Netherlands in this study. It is striking that 1 in 3 participants has a disability. Access to hormones was restricted in 7 out of 100 participants. Although many appointments with psychologists were cancelled, this quickly resumed in the form of phone conversations or video calls, according to half of the participants. A lot of anxiety and stress has been reported, with the hope that waiting lists for transgender care will continue to grow.

An initiative that provides support to transgender individuals

During Covid-19 lockdowns many operations of transgenders were cancelled. Transvision offered all kinds of help, such as help via a chatline, telephone, and by providing information, such as information how to bind breasts safely for trans men that have not been able to operate their breasts. The project aspires to an inclusive society in which every transgender person has access to the right care, at the right time, in the right place, by a care provider with the right expertise.

Find out more about the initiative

Photo by Freepik

To alleviate the impacts of COVID-19 policies, many initiatives have been developed by civil society organisations – NGOs, local governments, or citizens. A team of national researchers from the RESISTIRÉ project has collected and highlighted a set of particularly relevant initiatives in 27 European countries and in Iceland, Serbia, the United Kingdom and Turkey. These Better Stories cover eight specific domains: gender-based violence, the labour market, the economy, gender-pay and pension gaps, gender care gaps, decision-making and politics, environmental justice, human and fundamental rights.

This Better Story was collected by Agnes Kende

Changing attitudes towards LGBTQI people

INCLUSIVE SPACES is A two-year education project, in partnership with some of the most prominent LGBTQI organisations in the country aiming to reduce bullying of LGBTQI students at school and discrimination against LGBTQI people in the workplace. The initiative’s objective is to reduce harassment, negative or hostile attitudes towards LGBTQI people and discrimination in schools and workplaces in Hungary.

Promoting tolerance and acceptance

Its aim is to raise awareness about the situation and everyday experiences of the LGBTQI community and discrimination against sexual and gender minorities, in order to increase social awareness and more accepting attitudes. In order to achieve these goals, they conduct situation assessment research on the experiences of LGBTQI youth in schools and LGBTQI employees in the workplace.

The impacts of The Propaganda Act on tolerance programs in schools and the workplace include:

• Developping a methodological materials for teachers and a guide for schools on addressing the harassment of LGBTQI students.
• Providing training for teachers about creating an inclusive school environment.
• Organisin sessions and workshops in schools about inclusion
• Providing e-learning materials for students and employees.

Find out more about the initiative

Photo by Freepik

To alleviate the impacts of COVID-19 policies, many initiatives have been developed by civil society organisations – NGOs, local governments, or citizens. A team of national researchers from the RESISTIRÉ project has collected and highlighted a set of particularly relevant initiatives in 27 European countries and in Iceland, Serbia, the United Kingdom and Turkey. These Better Stories cover eight specific domains: gender-based violence, the labour market, the economy, gender-pay and pension gaps, gender care gaps, decision-making and politics, environmental justice, human and fundamental rights.

This Better Story was collected by Suzanne de Cheveigné

Raising awareness about gender identity

Today, transgender as a gender identity remains unfamiliar to the public, leaving trans individuals vulnerable to daily transphobic prejudice. These biases often hinder or obstruct crucial transition procedures, such as legal status changes and medical treatments, which are vital for people’s well-being. In response, Transat’s works towards raising public awareness about transgender challenges, offering support to the most vulnerable, and actively defending their rights.

Advocating for change

Transat, a Marseille-based organization, comprises transgender individuals dedicated to mutual support and militant advocacy. Alongside addressing their unique health concerns, Transat helps young people rejected by their families. During the lockdown, the challenges faced by trans individuals intensified, including limited access to healthcare, hormones, and family conflicts. Despite these difficulties, Transat helped many violence victims, including young individuals displaced from their homes. Transat successfully established a robust support network of dedicated members.

Find out more about the initiative

Photo by gpointstudio from freepik

To alleviate the impacts of COVID-19 policies, many initiatives have been developed by civil society organisations – NGOs, local governments, or citizens. A team of national researchers from the RESISTIRÉ project has collected and highlighted a set of particularly relevant initiatives in 27 European countries and in Iceland, Serbia, the United Kingdom and Turkey. These Better Stories currently cover eight specific domains: gender-based violence, the labour market, the economy, gender-pay and pension gaps, gender care gaps, decision-making and politics, environmental justice, human and fundamental rights.

This Better Story was collected by: Claire Stovell, Charoula Tzanakou, Alexis Still, Anne Laure Humbert. 

A group of black fathers in London have started their own podcast to challenge stereotypes and share their experiences of fatherhood. 

How it all started 

Marvyn, a black British father decided to send on Father’s Day 2018 a WhatsApp message to friends who are fathers saying thank you for their great work in raising the next generation. Every man replied quickly, and the group started discussing what it means to be a black dad in the UK today. The conversation being so rich and honest, they wanted to share them with as many people as possible and so they created a podcast. 

Calling themselves “Dope Black Dads”, they speak about the added pressures of being a black male parent: “the parenting part is the same, but what you’re trying to teach your child is much more layered. You’re trying to show them that having a different skin tone and hair might mean they are judged differently”.   

Launched in October 2018, the podcast has 60 regular contributors from around the globe. Episodes cover varied topics and some have explicitly referred to issues linked to the pandemic, for example, Get fit with Dope Black Dads; The mental load of masculinity and male parenting; Are you sending your kids back to school?; Back to school post covid. 

The impact of the podcast 

Dope Black Dads, a digital safe space for fathers who wish to discuss masculinity and their experiences of being a black parent in the modern world, is a success among women too. “We have had a fantastic response to the podcast from real people. Women are our biggest audience – there is a 60/40 split – and we have a global audience from different cultures.” 

The hopes are that this podcast will be a step in the right direction and might stop black dads from feeling alone. The aim is to celebrate, heal, inspire, and educate black fathers for better outcomes for black families. 

Learn more