Close

It sounds quite Shakespearian, but it is simply the result of consulting girls and women about the content of the message for the advocacy campaign to encourage women to vote in the EU Parliamentary elections. We discovered how strong feelings about voting can be.

 

SI Romania decided to go for a campaign with an eye looking at the past and the other looking to the future. In memory of those who sacrificed their lives so that women have the right to vote, it is clear that action is needed for the future. Committed to the SIE proposal to act as one and getting inspiration from our Polish Soroptimists, we decided to make use of the power of persuasion in a collective and coordinated action across Europe.

 

For example, SI Club Cluj chose to go high by showing the posters on one of the town’s hills at the Cetatuie (Fortress). They also invited students from the faculty of mathematics to the Babes Bolyai University to discuss the meaning of the poster. In the presence of the Union President, a similar discussion was organized at a high school, where the girls will be voting for the first time.

 

 

We were surprised by their enthusiasm. Why surprised? Because participation in the last EU elections was quite low. Those consulted opted for a message that calls for action:  SHE votes for Europe! And YOU?

 

But this was only the beginning of the campaign. The SI Romania website, Facebook pages of clubs, members’ Facebook, Instagram and other social media are the very minimum for our activities. In addition, every club is deciding whom and where to meet for telling the story of the poster and getting new ideas on how to proceed.

 

We are also making alliances. For example, Fundatia pentru Dezvoltarea Societatii Civile – FDSC (Civil Society Development Foundation) agreed to publish our poster on their website, www.stiri.ong, starting the last week of April. We will continue to discuss with other NGOs on how to partner for better advocacy. First on the list for the week April, 15-19 are Centrul Parteneriat pentru Egalitate (Center Partnership for Equality www.cpe.ro) and Centrul FILIA (https://centrulfilia.ro).

 

 

 

Madlen Serban, Advocacy coordinator, SI Romania