Alka, in Partnership with World Vision Romania, Supports the Campaign "Abuse Leaves Marks. Information Heals"

A third of teenagers know young people in relationships where one partner is aggressive. Nationally, in the first ten months of 2023, the number of criminal offenses related to domestic violence increased by 4.85% compared to the same period in 2022, rising from 46,127 to 48,368 cases, according to the Romanian Police.

Among domestic violence victims, over 67% are women, and 14% are minors. In response, World Vision Romania launched the campaign "Abuse Leaves Marks. Information Heals" in partnership with the Romanian Police and Alka Group.

The campaign is conducted on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, featuring a series of video clips with experts in psychology, social work, law, education, and law enforcement, offering teenagers advice on how to prevent abuse. A special campaign video can be watched here: https://youtu.be/IG4rYpjX9sU?feature=shared

"Girls from the countryside, agents of change" Project – Supporting girls for a brighter future

For the fourth consecutive year, the "Girls from the countryside, agents of change" project is taking place. Last year, 50 girls from the countryside communities in Iași received psychological counselling, self-esteem workshops, vocational mentoring, and academic support to help them graduate high school.

Key findings from World Vision Romania:

• 11% of young people have been in relationships where their partners tried to control all their decisions.
• 2 in 10 teenage girls say their partners make them feel inadequate.
• 6% have had partners who pressured them into sexual contact despite their refusal.
• 1 in 10 teenage girls feels insufficiently informed about how to protect themselves from potential sexual abuse.
• A similar percentage believes that a partner insisting on sex despite refusal is not necessarily sexual abuse.
• Alarmingly, nearly 28% of teenagers would not turn to the authorities if they were victims of violence, indicating a lack of trust or awareness of available protection and intervention mechanisms.

50 Girls from the countryside receive support for self-esteem and career development

For the 2023-2024 school year, 50 high school girls from 15 countryside communities in Iași will benefit from a comprehensive support program through the " Girls from the countryside, agents of change" project.

The project’s goal is to boost self-esteem, protect them from violence, and support their education and career development. The program includes:

• Personal and interpersonal development – Self-awareness sessions, identifying personal strengths, and building healthy relationships to improve school performance and social interactions.
• Violence prevention and intervention – Raising awareness of different types of violence, recognizing abuse, and knowing how to seek help.
• Vocational guidance – Empowerment workshops on self-confidence, women's roles in society, talents, and public speaking to help them make informed decisions about their future.
• Psychological counselling – Individual and group therapy sessions in schools to address personal challenges.
• 1-on-1 and group mentoring – Meetings with successful professionals from companies, NGOs, and public institutions.
• Tutoring support – Online learning sessions based on individual needs, helping students prepare for the Baccalaureate exam.

“Many young women from countryside communities do not recognize abuse. As a society, we have a responsibility to intensify education and awareness efforts. The statistics highlight an urgent need to redefine young people's perceptions of abuse and increase awareness. Through our project, we provide support and a safe environment for vulnerable teenage girls, helping them grow into informed, strong adults who can recognize and reject all forms of violence.”, stated Mihaela Nabăr, Executive Director of World Vision Romania.

 

“One of Alka Group’s core values is actively engaging in the community—because we CARE. The only way to truly show we care is through concrete action to raise education and awareness on what should be considered normal.

It is both distressing and alarming to see how many young girls fail to recognize abuse and perceive it as normal. It is no secret that young people represent the future of our society. We are committed to raising a generation of strong, confident women who set boundaries and pass on these values to their future children”, stated Ady Hirsch, CEO of Alka Group.