During debriefing, participants noted that what struck them about this “line”, are:
a) no hierarchy in the line
b) age is not necessarily the criteria for being “fresh” or experienced in the movement; sometimes younger women have been involved longer than older women
c) the women in the line all share the intention of being “involved”
d) every section of the line has different ages – this is both inspiring and enriching

Following this, participants were asked to form groups, consisting of a mix of both young and older activists. During the group discussions, participants had to share their experiences of their own organisations/ movements; their experience of power within the structure; and to determine to what extent the issues identified by young and old are the same, or differs. Using a scenario of doctor and patient within the groups, the doctor has to ask the patient about their “condition”, Questions to ask are:
-there current organisational structure – how do they experience it?
-programming: what works, what doesn’t work
- Space: where are they sitting in the building? In front, or at the back; involvement in conversations, etc.
Following this assessment, the doctor has to provide the patient with a “prescription” to address the condition.

Participants were also taken through the findings of a research facilitators conducted amongst young women between 20 and 39 in Egypt:

Group report back:

1) In this group a Palestinian women was interviewed: Structure and decision making: Her organisation is comprised of people who have been intensively trained on sexuality issues – coming from a very personal level; skills transfer then to schools, etc. She was concerned about the role of board members, and that they need to sign a letter of commitment at beginning of each year as to their intention towards the organisation; also, more informal interactions should also occur, both for information and update purposes.

Shared management: she feels overworked and overstressed; she wants to reconnect with the grassroots women, where she feels more connected.

2) Space in organisations should not just be physical, but can also be virtual spaces. Decision-making: younger women feel that they are only there to implement, and not being involved in decision-making, even if it is around issues that affect them.

3) Habida: works in a GBV shelter for women from muslim community: she is struggling with her identity as a feminist; but now in this conference, she is questioning this a bit; she sees women who are acting like men, yet calling themselves feminist; this is challenging ideas of what they are doing in the shelter. It was difficult to give a diagnosis, but recommended her to talk to more women during this conference. Other recommendations we made, were: to start programmes on feminisms, diversity, and different expressions of women’s experiences and identities; also their expressions of feminism; i.t.o. the structure of the organisation: both young and old to be involved in decision-making; base it on democratic procedures

Overview of survey results conducted by facilitators:

The facilitators provided participants with a quick overview of the results of a survey they did back home in Egypt, to assess young women’s experiences within multi-generational organisations. The interview sample was between the ages of 20 and 39.
- most participants were convinced about women rights movement (some felt only if it is ok with men)
- customs and traditions of society made them not completely convinced about women’s rights
- respondents felt that there were common interests between older and younger women, but different methods of working; old members had more suffering and rights violations;
- young women don’t know the interests of older women, but that they need support
- current needs are different from previous needs
- different opinions around addressing young women’s issues and needs; we do have spaces in movements, but need more spaces; some wanted own spaces, some felt that existing orgs should be improved
- it is important to establish new societies, but culture should be taken into consideration; both young and old should be included

Comparison between the local survey conducted in Egypt and results from international participants’ group work here at AWID:

A facilitator then provided a brief summary of the above:

No matter where we find ourselves, we find same issues; the younger women need to be more involved; they need to be included in programme decision-making, especially if it is programmes that they are involved in. We need to work more on meetings with younger generations; and ask them what they need; let them choose their own programmes