The VoiceOver 55+ project aims to empower women over the age of 55, while
promoting community awareness of gender-based violence and gender rights. It is
focused at women and individuals living in the Attica region. It is being implemented
by the Diotima Center as part of the PREVENT project, from April to December 2025.

Purpose

The aim of the project is to support women and survivors of gender-based/domestic
violence over the age of 55 through empowerment groups and to promote the
primary prevention of gender-based violence by mobilizing community members.

Objective

By strengthening their voice, we aim to assist women to rely into their strength, plan
their next steps after abuse, and become agents of change within their communities.
At the same time, we aim to raise awareness among the general public in order to
spread a culture of active defense of survivors and gender rights, which will
contribute to the fight against gender-based violence.

Actions

• Women’s empowerment groups

Through meetings and activities that utilize a range of creative methods, participants
will recognize their strength, reshaping their self-image. Thirty-five women over the
age of 55 will participate.

• Interactive bystander workshops

Through open, interactive workshops, witnesses of gender-based violence will be
informed, sensitized, and mobilized to spread a culture of zero tolerance for gender-
based violence. Fifteen people will participate, with open selection criteria.

• Campaign

Through the creation of a digital campaign, aimed at both women over 55 and the
general public, information will be promoted about the increased risk of domestic
violence faced by this group of women and girls. The goal of the campaign is 300,000
reach/impressions.

• Research

The research will utilize quantitative data from a multitude of available studies on
gender-based violence in Greece, emphasizing the phenomenon of domestic
violence and its consequences for women over 55. At the same time, interviews with
survivors and qualitative tools will highlight the experiences and perspectives of the
subjects themselves.

Target groups

• Women over 55
• Witnesses to gender-based violence: individuals who have lived/are living in abusive
  environments, or members of communities
• Women of all ages
• General public

Geographical scope of intervention

Attica Prefecture, with emphasis on the municipalities of Athens, Argyroupoli, and
Ilioupoli

*The project “VoiceOver 55+” is implemented within the framework of the PREVENT program by the Diotima Centre. The project “Preventing gender-based violence and violence against children” (PREVENT) aims to prevent and combat gender-based violence and violence against children by supporting Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Greece and Cyprus that are active in these fields, as well as by strengthening their knowledge, capacities, and sustainability. PREVENT is co-funded by the European Union through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) program, the Bodossaki Foundation, and the NGO Support Centre, with a total grant amount of €2.3 million. The PREVENT program is coordinated by the Bodossaki Foundation (Greece), in partnership with the NGO Support Centre (Cyprus). .

Funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, the European Commission, the Bodossaki Foundation, or the NGO Support Centre. Neither the European Union, the European Commission, the Bodossaki Foundation, nor the NGO Support Centre can be held responsible for the views expressed.