name of the project/initiative: Euopean Women in Dialogue (EWID) beginn: 1.Oktober.2004 end: 30.September.2006 position of the project/initiative : planned location of the project/initiative (city and the country): b) Germany, Tchechoslowakia, Slowakia, Sweden, Spain Institution responsible: East-West-European Women’s Network, OWEN e.V. adress: Elsa-Brändström-Str.5 13189 Berlin Germany fon: 0049-30-2808541 fax: 0049 30 2832252 email: owen@snafu.de website: www.owen-frauennetzwerk.de contact person: Marina Beyer-Grasse cooperation with other institutions: Gender Studies Praha, Gender Studies Bratislawa, Autonomus University of Barcelona, Göteborg University Dep. of Sociology Summary/ Abstract: The aim of the project is to promote gender democracy in the context of enlargement of the EU and growing together. More specifically, the project aims at strengthening women’s position as social actors and citizens, especially regarding the new EU members. Knowledge about life experiences of women of different generations in five European countries (CZ, SK, DE, SE, ES) embedded in the context of history, culture and society is going to be made aware of through gender - and and culture-sensitive interactive training courses. Cross-country comparisons are designed to show the european richness, as well as to stimulate cross-cultural and cross-generational dialogue among the learners. The proposed materials are based on the principles of oral history, biographical research and of interactive, intercultural, gender sensivtive and intergenerational learning. They will be made available and dissiminated through three courses offered in different European countries. Inoovative contents and didactical/methodological principles will be introduced. The main activities of the project consist of working out a common methodological ground; selecting and analysing biografical and historical materials; working out, testing, offering and conducting three training courses and a trainer's handbook (tool-box); evaluating and presenting the results at the final conference. Background (reason, initiative?): OWEN as a women’s NGO based in East-Germany was founded in 1991 to support women as actors and activists for democracy, mutual understanding, dialog and cooperation in Europe after the collapse of the socialist regimes in Central- and East Europe. In this context we had to learn and to understand, that our past – history as well as biografies AND the ownership of the post-socialist “power on memory and history” of the pasts can be used as chances but also barrieres for creating the future. We understood, that remembering the own past and sharing personal memories and stories can have an empowering effect by opening ways to overcome new and old pattern of “internalized oppression” and raising self confidence as a responsible acting subject and citizen. We understood, that by sharing personal memories and reflecting its structural and cultural context across existing diversities “bridges” can be build in order to link past – present and future and in order to support civic and democratic initiatives from buttom up. Therefore we decided to start in 1998 together with Gender Studies Praha an other partners in Central- and East Europe the international research and education project “Women’s memory- searching for the life and identity of women during the socialist era”. Since 1998 more than 500 biografic interviews had been done with women, born between 1920-1960. During the project process we developed a set of methods for workshops/seminars/ training courses where approaches of biografical work, oral history, the Paulo Freire”pedagogy of deliberation” and gender related education are used. "European Women in Dialogue" is running since 2000 in various small project activities linkde to the European Unification and the EU-Enlargement processes, it is planned as an EU-Project which will start in October 2004 objectives: Promote civic society and democracy through supporting dialogues between women, women and men, belonging to diverse generations, cultural, ethnic, social backgrounds as well as diverse political positions target groups: trainers/multipliers in the fields of out-school youth- and adult civic education setting (family. open space, school, home, others): open space, home, out school education institutions methods of intergenerational learning/ dialogue: workshops, seminars, training courses difficulties and ways of transition:   Does the project relate trainings of persons involved? (Discription): yes, through train the trainers and providing training materials successful experiences:   extension of the project/ initiative: crossing borders funding: Public foundations, public institutions (federal, state), European Union publications: no