“RISE UP” Project at Francisca Franco Foundation

Grasiela Hadler

Project coordinator at YWCA São Paulo

email: riseup.ywca@gmail.com
Phone: + 55 11 970442162

ASSOCIAÇÃO CRISTÃ FEMININA DE SÃO PAULO

CNPJ N. 62.526.256/0001-94
RUA ITAPEVA, 66 – CEP 01332-000 – SÃO PAULO – SP
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LOCAL/NATIONAL CONTEXT AND THE PROBLEMS ADDRESSED

Violence against women and girls is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the
world. It knows no social, economic or national boundaries. Worldwide, it is estimated that
one in three women will experience physical or sexual abuse in her lifetime.
Gender-based violence undermines the health, dignity, safety and autonomy of its victims,
yet it remains shrouded in a culture of silence. Victims of violence can suffer sexual and
reproductive health consequences, including forced and unwanted pregnancies, unsafe
abortions, traumatic fistula, sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, and even death.
Women living in contexts of humanitarian emergencies are particularly vulnerable to
various forms of violence and exploitation, whether perpetrated by someone in their family,
their social circle or strangers.
Another serious issue that afflicts women is teenage pregnancy. Brazil is still above the
world average and has recorded high rates of early pregnancy compared to other countries,
including among the lowest age groups. According to data from the Ministry of Health
gathered by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), there are more than 19,000 live
births per year to mothers aged between 10 and 14 years.
According to the report on the State of World Population by the UN Population Fund, Brazil
has a low general fertility rate (which encompasses different age groups), of 1.7 children per
woman, compared to the world average, which is 2.5. When we analyze specific fertility in
adolescence, however, the country is above the world average: there are 53 pregnant
adolescents per thousand, while in the world there are 41, which demonstrates a
“rejuvenation of fertility”. This also tends to indicate a difficulty in guaranteeing the
strengthening of trajectories, rights and health of adolescents in the country, considering
that in most cases pregnancy at this age is unintentional, and is often also related to
situations of abuse and sexual violence.
The most general consequences of unintended teenage pregnancy, especially in contexts of
limited public policies, tend to include interruption or dropout from school, delay or
unskilled insertion in the world of work, and a continuation of the intergenerational cycle of
poverty and inequality. Girls from lower-income families with the lowest levels of education,
and from indigenous and Afro-descendant communities, are disproportionately affected by
early pregnancy.
Brazil has the third best law in the world in the fight against domestic violence, behind only
Spain and Chile, according to the United Nations: the Maria da Penha Law (Law No.
11,340/2006). The full realization of the rights guaranteed to women by national and
international norms also comes up against, in many cases, the misunderstanding of gender
inequalities and their effects by societies in general.
Law n°11,340 also introduced an important tool that allows the State to intervene in a
situation of violence almost immediately, in an attempt to protect women's lives: the so-
called urgent protective measures. As the name implies, these measures are intended to
provide protection to women who are experiencing violence. Some measures are aimed at
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the person who practices violence, such as removal from home, prohibition of approaching
the victim and suspension of carrying weapons. Other measures are aimed at women, such
as referral to a protection program or assistance by the different services of the Public
Power.
The Francisca Franco Foundation is one of the protection programs in the city of São Pauo,
Brazil. It is an organization created in 1954 with the main objective of assisting women and
children in situations of social and personal vulnerability. Welcoming, helping and assisting
women to overcome a sad reality, that of domestic violence.
The aim of this public service is to apply the RiseUp! project at Francisca Franco
Foundation. Among the works carried out at the foundation is Casa da Mamãe (Mom's
house) which serves and welcomes up to 20 women (also adolescents and young women)
victims of domestic violence from a gender perspective, as well as their children. The Casa
da Mamãe aims to contribute to the psychosocial healing and reconditioning of women by
breaking the cycle of violence and promoting women's rights and family well-being. The
house has a confidential address in order to promote the safety of the Children, Adolescents
and Women sheltered there.
The Rise Up! is a project created by young women, which, through an approach based on
human rights and education for life, develops the self-leadership of young women and girls
who start to make the best decisions, to fulfill their rights, to lead their lives, their family
and their community, thus creating a better future. In line with the goals of the 2030 agenda
and the UNDP Sustainable Goals 3, 5, 10, 12 and 16. The program aims to promote more
health and love in society and the environment as a whole. The promise of our future
depends on the priorities we set in our present.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT/INITIATIVE

In 2010, young women at the YWCA Solomon Islands created The Rise Up! Young Women’s
Leadership Programme with support from the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement. Rise Up! was
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specifically designed to harness the leadership potential of the most marginalised and
disadvantaged young women in the region, including those living in urban settlements and
rural areas.
Rise Up! includes a combination of participatory training, mentoring and practical leadership
experiences for young women. During the programme, participants learn leadership skills,
and discuss social issues affecting young women in their communities and how to deal with
those issues. Participants also learn basic advocacy skills and then, in small groups, plan and
deliver a community level advocacy project with the support of a mentor. Unique to the Rise
Up! model is the inclusion of religious, cultural and traditional perspectives that enable
women’s empowerment and leadership.
It’s a leadership training model designed by young women for young women.
The Rise Up! develops knowledge on 13 important topics for women's lives, including sexual
and reproductive rights, justice and economic education, peace, prevention of different
forms of violence against women, teenage pregnancy, drug abuse prevention, in addition to
technical classes writing and math.

LOGFRAME OR A THEORY OF CHANGE

Description Indicators Means of verification Assumptions

Goal Transform power During the programme,
structures to create participants learn
justice, gender equality leadership skills, and discuss
social issues affecting young
makes a world without
women in their
violence and war communities and how to
deal with those issues
Francisca Franco -Violence against women and
Foundation report girls is one of the most
prevalent human rights
violations in the world
- There are more than 19,000
live births per year to mothers
aged between 10 and 14 years

Outcome A future where a YWCA Young Women’s Francisca Franco Transform power structures to
determined young Transformative Leadership Foundation report create justice, gender equality
woman through her will, builds upon the existing makes a world without violence
creativity, ideas, energy, knowledge, creativity, and and war
and community support capacity of YWCA young
will turn her dreams into women to become leaders
her reality for positive social, economic
and environmental change
Output -Contributing to the Casa da Mamãe serves and
empowerment of a vast Number of empowered welcomes up to 20 women
cohort of young women young women (making Casa da Mamãe report victims of domestic violence
making decisions and decisions and rising up to from a gender perspective, as
rising up to own their own their rights and future) well as their childrenv
rights and future.

Activity - Yoga/shantala - A safe space and bond of Guide for Young Women’s -Several Topics for Discussion
trust Transformative Leadership identified by YWCA
- Talk wheel (RiseUp)1

1 https://www.worldywca.org/
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-Periodic meetings with - Exercises to favor the mother-

- Dynamic Workshops women (and their babies) at baby bond
the Francisca Franco
Foundation

A PROJECT TIMELINE AND ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT

The project is planned to start in February 2023 and will take the form of twice a week
meetings.
A theoretical base examines what we mean by transformative leadership and includes the
YWCA Young Women’s Transformative Leadership Journey which incorporates Human
Rights, Safe Spaces and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as building blocks for
transformative leadership.
The following Topics for Discussion have been identified by YWCA Young Women as
fundamental for fostering informed, inspired and healthy young women. As young women
learn about their rights and explore their own opinions and experiences, their confidence
grows and so does their leadership. Young women’s transformative leadership and action in
these areas of concern, promises a better future for young women, their families,
communities and the world:

● Child, Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM);

● Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR);
● Menstruation;
● Early and Unintended Pregnancy;
● Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (LGBTIQ);
● HIV and AIDS;
● Sex Trafficking;
● Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG);
● Peace, Security and Gender Equality;
● Climate Change and Gender Equality;
● Economic Justice and Gender Equality;
● Bullying and Cyberbullying;
● Faith, Feminism and human rights).

Activities and techniques will be used to create discussions, drawn from YWCA training
manuals, as well as materials from various experts in the fields of training human rights.
All activities and guided discussions aim to provide an opportunity for young women to
learn about themselves and their rights. They are designed to help young women better
understand inequalities and feel confident to challenge injustices.
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WHAT WE DO:

YOGA/SHANTLA TALK WHEEL DYNAMIC WORKSHOPS

YOGA/SHANTALA: is a powerful technique in helping emotional, physical and mental well-

being. We will start the class with Pranayamas (breathing exercises), breathing is directly
linked to the self-regulation of our emotions. Shantala is an Indian massage promoted in the
70s by the French gynecologist and obstetrician Dr. Frédérick Leboyer. When visiting India,
he noticed that it was very common to find mothers massaging their babies in streets and
public squares, in a daily habit of care and affection. In addition to the physical benefits for
the baby, Shantala greatly favors the mother-baby bond.

During the class, there are moments of massage and interaction with the baby,
understanding and respecting their development and helping them to integrate, and
moments of asana practice, helping the woman to find herself and recover her body and
conditioning. There will be weekly classes with a trained professional.

TALK WHEEL: Talk wheel uses compassionate listening as a place where young people can
openly share their experiences and challenges. What has been shared will be used for
empowering each other without discrimination and prejudgment and preventing
stereotypes that block opinions of others. ie.

Guided memories, values clarification and creative art projects. After discussing a topic, it's
asked of young women to think about their own lives, reflect on when one of their rights or
someone else’s was not respected. The next phase is to have them imagine how they would
act differently now that they are aware of their rights. Some people may not want to share
their personal reflections, this will always be respected through a practice of confidentiality
and trust.

DYNAMIC WORKSHOPS: Using different methods of facilitating and working with groups to
keep everyone engaged and learning. The sessions will be creative and dynamic using:

Ice Breakers and Energizers - ie. ask the young people if they know of any games.

Discussion Triggers - Brainstorming, agree/disagree exercises, case studies, questions and

statements to create dialogue, presenting a problem. Group Discussions - ie. Debates, after
most of the topic information has been covered, can also be a fun way for young people to
perceive many sides of an argument. Participatory reflection and Analysis - ie. Ask the young
people to reflect on their own experiences of a topic and to share and compare within a
small group.
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STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS

Stakeholders Positive Negative Degree of Degree of Attitude

Power Interest

Sponsor Funds pressure for 10 10 manage (maximum level of follow-up,

results transparency)

Collaborators good working infighting and 8 4 keep satisfied (report and follow up on
environment, sabotage expectations)
cooperation

Providers On-time and expired or 3 8 keep informed (good communication)

on-spec defective
delivery supplies

Youth women verify disinterest, no 2 6 keep satisfied (report and follow up on

from the Casa leadership evolution of the expectations)
da Mamãe development proposed works
project

BUDGET OF THE PROJECT INDICATING THE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION

NEEDED/DESIRED

INITIAL INVESTMENT Cost

Computer USD 350

Individual kit (notebook without line, pen, pencil, colored USD 750
pencil, eraser, sanitary pads)
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ESTIMATED SUBTOTAL USD 1,100

Monthly Cost Annual Cost

Psychologist salary USD 600 USD 7200

Yoga Instructor salary USD 600 USD 7200

Stationery Store USD 30 USD 360

Support material USD 70 USD 840

Internet USD 20 USD 240

ESTIMATED SUBTOTAL USD 1,320 USD 15,840

ESTIMATED TOTAL USD 16,940