CONTENTS 3 5 7 9 10 13
Executive Board 12-13 Introduction Training & Development Activities Financial Report Accomplishments
This report was designed by Romina Tolu, We Are’s Communications Officer, more of her work can be found on minatolu.carbonmade.com
WE ARE - ANNUAL REPORT 2012 - 2013
EXECUTIVE BOARD 12-13 Luisa Tolu
Gaby Gauci
Keith Coleiro Secretary General
Paul Caruana Turner
Brenda Cutajar
Romina Tolu
President
Events Officer
Vice President
Treasurer
Communications Officer
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WE ARE - ANNUAL REPORT 2012 - 2013
INTRODUCTION I cannot believe it has been three years since that infamous first meeting in one of the old computer labs in a dark basement on campus. We Are has come a long way since then, not only as a University based organisation but also reaching out to the community nationwide. What started off as a small organisation of friends grew into one large, diverse (and certainly unique) family. This year we have expanded our reach by holding some of our yearly events at other post-secondary education institutions, like Flowers for Friendship at GCHSS and Junior College. Because of this we have been invited to hold talks with the guidance office in order for us to collaborate on some events, like workshops and seminars, in the future. Through all our adventures this year one thing has remained apparent: We Are is still a very much needed organisation. Although things in Malta are slowly getting better for LGBTQQI individuals, there are still people who feel like they do not belong and have no one to turn to for support. This organisation is there for them, as always, providing a safe space to explore their sexuality and gender identity as well as answering any queries and providing information to help them along this journey. Although we have certainly come a long way, there is still work to be done so that We Are can continue to grow, like furthering community support and increasing community events as well as contributing further on the consultative council in order to ensure that we are able to help improve the situation in Malta for anyone who falls under the LGBTQQI umbrella.
Member support is crucial, which is why I would like to thank all those who took an active interest in the organisation this year. Without these dedicated individuals many of our events would not have been successful. One cannot forget to mention all the support from the US Embassy, MGRM, our food sponsor The Wembley Store, IGLYO and all other organisations that provided invaluable input and assistance. As this will be my final year volunteering with We Are due to my studies in Malta coming to a close, I would like to impart some final words of wisdom to any future activists involved with this awesome organisation: cookies solve all problems. They are great during brainstorming sessions and especially useful to have on a stand. Throughout my time with We Are, I have not only become a better activist, but a better person. It has truly been an honour to be part of this family and feel like my voice has indeed made a difference. I hope that this organisation can continue to do that for others as well as always being a place where people can express themselves without fear of being judged or excluded because of it.
Gaby Gauci Vice-President
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Every year, We Are renews and expands its commitment to the growth of its capacity, together with the development of its ability to respond to the aims of the organisation and needs of LGBT young people.
WE ARE - ANNUAL REPORT 2012 - 2013
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT Keep the Faith: IGLYO Conference, Belgium, November 2012 Organised by IGLYO with support by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe and the Brussels Ministry of Equal Opportunities, the conference aimed at promoting inter-religious and inter cultural dialogue in relation to LGBTQ youth. Represented by David, the organisation benefitted of a better understanding of the most effective practices within the field and in better knowledge of how LGBT youth organisations may launch dialogue with religious or faith based institutions. Hate No More: IGLYO’s Capacity Building Workshop on Combating Hate Speech On-Line, and the IGLYO General Assembly December 2012 On behalf of We Are, Romina attended the capacity building workshop organised by IGLYO with support from the Council of Europe European Youth Foundation. Held in Ukraine, the workshop aimed at assisting member organisations in their understanding of hate speech online and its effects on LGBTQ youth, and has equipped the organisation with tools and activity models to mobilize LGBTQ youth around the issue, and develop and launch campaigns to combat hate speech online. ILGA World Conference, Sweden, December 2012 Romina also participated in the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) World Conference, hosted by the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights, in was revealed to be the largest democratic meeting of global LGBTI movements in history. Hence, the conference proved to be a unique opportunity to share experiences, learn more about campaigning, expand skills, and develop stronger contacts.
You Care You Share! Non-formal Education in LGBT Activism, Romania, March 2013 Coordinated by the Romanian organisation ACCEPT, the youth exchange project “You Care, You Share!” brought a team of 5 We Are representatives to actively work in partnership with four other countries. The result was the creation of a youth exchange characterised by the sharing of non-formal education methods between activists working in the field of LGBT rights, the promotion of diversity and peer-to-peer learning, and the cultivation of mutual understanding in an intercultural environment. LGBT Youth & Social Inclusion Conference, Ireland, June 2013 Organised by BeLonG To, the conference held in Ireland brought together main EU institutions and LGBT Activists from across the world to discuss the rights of LGBT young people. We Are, represented by Romina, participated in the development of a Dublin Statement of principles and actions to guide and inform the development of strategies for LGBT youth across Europe. Mediterranean Network, Malta, September 2013 Three of our members participated in these meetings organised by MGRM. This included an Intersex Awareness seminar, and discussions with other activists from the Mediterranean region. In the end participants met up with Minister Helena Dalli to discuss matters which came up over the weekend.
Keith Coleiro Secretary General 7
WE ARE - ANNUAL REPORT 2012 - 2013
ACTIVITIES We Are’s main focus, as in previous years, has been on Social, Educational, and Awareness Raising activities. This year we dedicated more time and energy on educational and awareness raising activities as it was felt that most of the We Are executive and members had the necessary skills and experience to inform and educate the public. Social Events Our social events aim to bring youth and students together in a fun and relaxed environment. It is also a great way to make new friends and meet other people who may have similar interests.We provide different activities to try and cater for every individual’s hobbies and interest. This year we organised nights out, a picnic, friendly sports, movies and weekly open meetings on campus. Each of these was successful as they brought together between 6 and 15 people each time, depending on the event; the most popular and demanding activity being friendly sports. The constant attendance of members serves to indicate that such activities should remain central to We Are’s activities. Wembley Stores kind sponsorship helped our events by providing us with food and drink. Educational Activities This year We Are worked in collaboration with Queer studies lecturer Ruth Baldacchino and organized various activities to non-formally educate students taking part in the course, We Are members and other individuals with an interest in the subjects at hand. Activities including a poster campaign on bisexuality awareness, film screenings, and a stand for ‘Queering Heterosexuality’. We were also invited to two human library events, one organised by GCHSS on the 5th February, and one organised by Mosta Youth Empowerment Centre on the 6th July. At the events 5 and 4 members represented We Are and had the opportunity to talk to numerous youth and students who all appeared genuinely interested in hearing our stories and learning about our experiences. Participants asked all kinds of questions about different topics and most of them were interested in learning more.
Awareness Raising Social media, in particular Facebook, has proved a useful tool to spread articles and websites of interest, and our page received an average of 1000 views per week and we currently have 1,216 likes. This year we also took the initiative to write a blog post per month about interesting things that may be happening in our lives, information or just our own thoughts that we wanted to communicate and share with our members. We had different activities during IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia), we gave out carnations at G.F Abela Junior College, Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary and the University of Malta. We also delivered a very successful campaign entitled ‘Faces for IDAHO’ where activists, students, lecturers, friends and parents came together to lend their faces and voices to create a poster exhibition with strong individual messages against Homophobia and Transphobia. In April the European Parliament Office in Malta teamed up with ‘Studenti Ħarsien Socjali’ and ‘We Are’ to organise a debate aimed at raising awareness about the Day of Silence while bringing to light the issues conditioning and restraining LGBT persons, in the context of Maltese societal challenges. It sought to highlight the efforts of the EP in the fight against homophobia and transphobia. As well as the debate, members of We Are and SHS gave out stickers around campus to create awareness about this day and spread the message without using any form of verbal communication. We Are also participated in the Pride march, published numerous articles and a number of press releases.
Brenda Cutajar Events Officer
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FINANCIAL REPORT WE ARE Income and Expenditure Report for the year ending 18th September 2013 Notes
2013
2013
2012
2012
Eur
Eur
Eur
Eur
Receipts Grants
1
2960
1116.6
Donations
1
14.47
186.42
2974.47
1303.02
Total Receipts Expenditure Grants
2
300.00
-352.50
Printing
4
69.90
-100.00
Domain Registration
20.00
-45.00
Stamp & Ink
19.90
-142.98
Iglyo Membership
80.00
-63.47
Miscellaneous
3
24.25
Total Expenditure
-514.05
-703.95
Surplus for the Year
2460.42
599.07
2013 Eur
2012 Eur
3116.95 19.42 3136.37
809.99 4.95 814.94
WE ARE Statement of Finacial Position as at 18th September 2013
Current Assets Bank Cash
WE ARE - ANNUAL REPORT 2012 - 2013
NOTES 1. Grants A. Basis of preparation The Annual Financial Report (AFR) is prepared on cash basis, that is, income is recognised upon receipt of cash and expenditure is recognised when expenses are paid. Non-cash items like depreciation, provisions and accruals should not be included in the AFR. Donations could be increased by the organisation of more events on behalf of We Are. B.Grants (Received) The grants received were made up of the following: Voices Grant 2,960.00 Total (Eur) 2,960.00 C. Donations These are made up of donations collected during various WE ARE events held throughout the year. Following last years reccomendations the EB has adopted the practice of writing down donations on a sheet and having these co signed to be verified. This year I recommend ensuring this practice is continued by inserting it into the bye-laws.
2. Expenditure A. Basis of preparation Income is recognised upon receipt of cash and expenditure is recognised when expenses are paid. Non-cash items like depreciation, provisions and accruals should not be included in the AFR. Thus some of the spending made this year relates to previous grants and the Voices grant remains untouched. B.Grants (Expenditure) The grants paid out were made up of the following: David Reimbursement -10.00 Jordan’s DSA -300.00 Total (Eur) -310.00 3. Miscellaneous Petrol 20.00 Lock (For Locker) 4.25 Total (Eur) 24.25 4. Printing Given the burgeoning printing costs and due to the nature of the organisation, it is recommended that the next EB attempts to secure a sponsorship deal for printing. Papier has already been approached by Paul Caruana Turner and expressed an interest. This should be followed up.
Paul Caruana Turner Treasurer 11
WE ARE - ANNUAL REPORT 2012 - 2013
ACCOMPLISHMENTS Representing Members on the Consultative Council Two members of We Are are representing the organisation on the consultative council set up by Minister Helena Dalli. We Are is proud to have been recognised as one of the organisations working in Malta to advance the rights and quality of life of LGBT individuals. Being part of the council has allowed us to contribute to the drafting of proposed legislation on civil unions and gender identity together with the Malta Gay Rights Movement, AD, Drachma Parents, LGBT Labour, and independent experts. Now we look forward to discussions with other ministry officials on how to make policy more inclusive of the reality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans persons living in Malta. Expanding our reach This year we have been even more successful in reaching youth and students beyond the University of Malta campus. This was possible because of the various campaigns and activities organised which allowed us to speak to students at GCHSS and Junior College, hang up posters at MCAST institute of art and design, speak to a group of 18 year olds during a youth exhchange organised by a youth empowerment centre, and also feature on TV and online blogs, newspapers, and magazines. Our facebook page also received more hits this year, which was in part due to a highly successful campaign for IDAHO which success will hopefully be carried on into the next year.
TIMELINE OF EVENTS November 2012
New Executive Board Keep the Faith seminar December 2012 Xmas social events ILGA Youth Forum IGLYO Conference February 2013 GCHSS Human Library Queer Studies Events Bisexuality Awareness Week March 2013 Youth Exchange in Romania April 2013 Day of Silence May 2013 IDAHo activities June 2013 Pride Dublin Conference It Gets Better Video Participation Consultative Council Meetings September 2013 Mediterranean Network Meeting IGLYO study session EGM
Luisa Tolu President 13
We Are, Student’s House, University of Malta, Msida, MSD 2080 +356 99815240 http://facebook.com/weareuom weareuom@gmail.com