Nina Alff
The reason I believe the ANA HUNNA material is successful, is that we worked on it altogether as a multinational and multidisciplinary team.
I believe the first thing in all human interaction is communication. We need to talk to each other in order to understand cultural norms, traditions and stereotypes. Only then can we challenge them. With ANA HUNNA we are doing exactly that. The ANA HUNNA material is designed to foster debates, to offer a platform for discussion and create space for new perspectives. We have to look at our own stereotypes and deconstruct them all the time, in order not to resort to judging people.
When developing the ANA HUNNA Educational Kit, one thing was of really high importance to me: we have to meet people where they are at. In the MENA region, talking about gender equality is still challenging. Working in rural Egypt for instance, we have to start with very basic questions. For example: Are women allowed to work?
The reason I believe the ANA HUNNA material is successful, is that we worked on it altogether as a multinational and multidisciplinary team. The ANA HUNNA method is based on the experience of colleagues from all the involved countries. And it’s not centered on the teacher. It’s engaging, participatory and it can be adapted to any cultural context
Another reason why the ANA HUNNA method is so innovative are the short films. Not everyone in the MENA region can read. And some of those who can, might not like doing it. Movies are a great way to bridge that gap and they release emotions. These short films mirror everyday life for our participants. They are authentic! I suppose that is one of the reasons why so many people ask to work with the material. By now, it’s been translated into four languages – Arabic, English, French and German.
In Germany, too, we can use it in many ways. When working with refugees for example, or simply to convey different realities and different gender discussions to students. We can use it in heterogeneous groups of people with the simple goal of just getting them to talk to each other. My biggest vision for ANA HUNNA is, that in a few years from now we can produce such short films again. This time documenting the change that has taken place.
Nina Alff is a gender trainer, consultant and believes that every man and woman should become a feminist! Together with colleagues from all member countries, she developed the ANA HUNNA Educational Kit.
