NÛPELDA DENİZ

Makhmour- The Martyr Jiyan Academy has held awareness-raising activities and events for the young people in the Makhmour Martyr Rustem Cudi Camp (Makhmour Refugee Camp) since it was founded in 2003. The academy held a 12-day workshop for male teachers on August 19 with the participation of 28 male teachers.  

In an interview with NuJINHA, the academy member Dilşîn Kara and male teachers participating in the workshop talked about the aim of the workshop.

‘We will create change and transformation in the patriarchal mindset’

Speaking about the workshop held in the camp for male teachers, Dilşîn Kara said, “We organize workshops for both male and female teachers in summer. The aim of our workshops is to change the 5000-year-old patriarchal mindset. Since teachers raise our children, they must first educate themselves. We will create change and transformation in the patriarchal mindset by holding such workshops.”

 ‘We cannot teach the truth without breaking down patriarchy’

Education is important for teachers, said Yûsif Kara, one of the male teachers participating in the workshop. “Teachers are the educators of children and they play a vital role in shaping their lives. For this reason, they should break down patriarchy. We, as male teachers, cannot teach the truth without breaking down patriarchy. Such workshops should be organized for everyone in society.”

 The workshop focused on the concept of power, male dominance, masculinity, gender and sexism, Yûsiv Kara added. “At the end of the workshop, we learned how cruel the male dominance is. Surely, there have been changes and transformations in the past, but there is a need for a radical change. Men are affected by patriarchy while there is a great struggle against it. A free society will be built by the model aiming at forming democratic families.”

‘Our expectations are high’

Teachers must have knowledge about society, nature, women and family, said Mustafa Nerexî, another male teacher participating in the workshop. “The workshop was named after Martyr Yûsif Pîrosî. Each workshop is an experience for us. As teachers, we, of course, need education because we must have knowledge about society, nature, women and family. For this reason, our expectations are high. There are very serious attacks against the Kurdish people and Kurdistan, so we should protect our existence and our identity. Such workshops make us happy.”