Between 4–8 March 2025, we hosted in Timișoara the Erasmus+ training course “Beyond Borders: A Feminist Perspective on Migration”, bringing together 24 youth workers, activists, and changemakers from Moldova, Armenia, Italy, and Poland to explore how gender and migration intersect — and how young people can foster more inclusive societies. Organised by the Timiș County Youth Foundation (FITT), the course took place at the Youth House, a Council of Europe Quality Labelled Youth Centre, offering a dynamic and diverse space for learning, reflection, and exchange.
Migration continues to be one of the most complex global phenomena, and when viewed through a feminist lens, it exposes deep inequalities affecting women and other marginalised groups. The training encouraged participants to critically analyse these realities, reflecting on how gender, race, and class shape migration experiences and policies. Through a mix of theoretical discussions and non-formal education methods, participants connected global issues to local community contexts and explored practical ways to act for change.
The learning journey followed an experiential and progressive structure. After initial team-building sessions that strengthened group dynamics, participants engaged in interactive modules such as “Introduction to Feminism and Migration” and “Intersectionality and Inclusion.” Using methods like “Take a Step Forward”, they explored privilege, inequality, and empathy through direct experience. The Open Space format invited them to design and lead their own discussions, reinforcing peer-to-peer learning and collective ownership of the process.
As the week progressed, participants examined how patriarchal systems and gender norms influence migration narratives and public attitudes. They discussed barriers faced by migrant women — from gender-based violence to limited access to healthcare, education, and protection — and worked together to imagine more inclusive and feminist migration frameworks.
The experience extended beyond the training room. Participants discovered Timișoara, a multicultural city that embodies coexistence and diversity — values at the core of the course. Together, they co-created and hosted a public event on 8 March, marking International Women’s Day through creative and educational activities that celebrated solidarity and allyship with migrant women. The course concluded with reflection and Youthpass sessions, where participants identified the competences developed during the week, from communication and teamwork to critical thinking and civic engagement.
By the end of the training, participants had strengthened their capacities in human rights education, advocacy, and social inclusion. They returned to their home organisations — Femei pentru Femei (Moldova), Armenian Progressive Youth (Armenia), ActionAid Italia (Italy), and Logos (Poland) — equipped with new tools and perspectives to design inclusive community initiatives and amplify migrant voices.
“Beyond Borders” is part of FITT’s ongoing mission to empower young people and youth workers to act as changemakers in their communities. By examining migration through a feminist perspective, the training invited participants to look beyond borders — not only geographical but also social and cultural — and to build bridges of empathy, equality, and shared responsibility.
Project co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.