A Dynamic Start in Cologne

PreWorks Project Kick-Off

The Kick-Off Meeting of the PreWorks Project was held in Cologne, marking the official start of the EU-funded initiative. The two-day meeting, hosted by PsG.nrw (State Office for the Prevention of Sexualized Violence North Rhine-Westphalia) brought together project partners from across Europe to align on objectives and begin collaborative work.

The lovely weather and the vibrant city of Cologne contributed to a very successful start of the project.

Day 1: Introducing the Project Framework

The official agenda began on Thursday morning with opening remarks from Britta Schülke (Director of AJS NRW and PsG.nrw), Project Manager Georgios Paslakis (Ruhr University Bochum) and Nadine Jastfelder (Head of PsG.nrw).

An introductory icebreaker session titled “Who’s in the Room?” encouraged early engagement among participants. This was followed by a project overview presented by Ruhr University Bochum, outlining the scope and timeline of PreWorks’ planned activities.

The afternoon featured a series of thematic presentations:

• Financial administration guidance (by City of Rotterdam)

• An overview of the Group Prevention Intervention (by DIAK)

• A presentation on the Train-the-Trainer approach (from Genderhood)

• The “Tackle The Taboo” campaign (by Dona Daria)

  
  

These sessions facilitated discussion and knowledge exchange among partners.

The day concluded with a review of immediate next steps and project milestones. An official dinner followed, providing space for further discussion and informal connection.

Day 2: Applying Knowledge and Planning Outreach

On Friday, participants engaged in a collaborative session led by DIAK to begin co-developing the Group Prevention Intervention.

In the afternoon, René Keijzer and Nikki Jansen led a session on communication and dissemination strategies, underscoring the importance of broadening the project’s impact through effective outreach.

Georgios Paslakis provided closing reflections, summarizing key takeaways and expressing optimism about the collaborative work ahead. A city tour including the visit of the famous Cologne Cathedral concluded the meeting, offering cultural context and an opportunity for informal dialogue among partners. The day ended at a typical Cologne brewery.