Campaign MenCare Georgia releases children’s book to raise awareness on gender equality

A Georgian-based campaign has released a children's book to help raise awareness around the topic of gender equality, with the launch set to coincide with the annual Europe Day celebrations in the country on Saturday.

With the title Courageous Little Hearts: Tales of Hope and Kindness, the book from Care Together non-governmental organisation comes as part of the MenCare Georgia campaign designed to contribute to public awareness on the subject.

Published with the support of UN Women, the United Nations Population Fund and the European Union, the book is aimed to teach children about inclusivity and gender equality. Five authors from the EU’s Eastern Partnership countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine contributed stories to the anthology related to gender equality and gender stereotypes, as well as human rights, discrimination and positive parenting. 

Illustrations for the publication were designed by Harutyun Tumaghyan, Svetlana Parfeniuc, Sevinc Quliyeva, Mari Kakhurishvili and Yevheniya Polosina, while Khatia Chitorelidze designed the book's cover.

Mindia Arabuli, the author of the story Piglets and Chickens in Silk Gowns that was selected for the book, will meet young readers on the launch day for a reading event, followed by a crafts session designed for the book launch and led by Giorgi Liparishvili, an elementary school teacher.

Photo: Giorgi Dadiani

Designed for both children and adults, the texts incorporate the socio-economic context of the South Caucasus region and cover issues that also include public stereotypes, prejudice, male involvement in parenting and more while taking into account the socioeconomic environment of the region.

The project's aim is to encourage the wider public to reconsider the obstacles, preconceptions, and clichés that limit the development of an equitable environment in the member states of EaP.

Modern times require modern stories. Modern heroines do not wait to be rescued by a prince, they are brave and determined and decide their own destinies. Modern heroes are, unlike all-too-well-known princes in high castles, empathetic and dreamy”, Olga Osaulenko, Regional Project Manager of EU 4 Gender Equality project said.

This collection of stories offers a different look at the roles of women and men, girls and boys, and is one of the initiatives in the region that rethink the roles and behaviours society expects from us. We are proud that UN Women and UNFPA had an opportunity to support this important collection through the EU-funded joint project”, she added.

Funded by the EU and implemented jointly by UN Women and UNFPA, the programme aims to strengthen equal rights and opportunities for women and men by addressing gender stereotypes, changing social perceptions of gender roles, and increasing men's participation in childcare and other domestic duties.

Courageous Little Hearts tells relevant and important stories. This beautiful collection is a great opportunity for children to think about and reflect on important values with the help of kind and courageous characters as they experience their adventures through this book”, Care Together Co-Founder Ninia Matcharashvili said.

This collection has been created for parents as well, with the aim of encouraging them re- re-examine deeply rooted stereotypes and harmful practices, such as an unequal environment for people with special needs, discrimination on the basis of gender, race or ethnicity. It is our sincere hope that this collection will serve as a beginning of honest and meaningful dialogue between children and their parents”, Matcharashvili also noted.

The book is published in the native languages of the participating authors as well as English, and will be accessible in Tbilisi public school libraries and all municipal libraries across the country.