Since September 2019, I have been collaborating as a technology expert in the programm #ACTFEM (Girls Acting For EMpowerment), created by Plàudite Teatre – Espai d’Arts Escèniques, which bridges pedagogical approaches in performative arts, digital technologies, and feminist education. The innovative scenic-technological and social activism project harnesses the transformative power of the performing arts and digital technologies to support vulnerable young people – particularly young women from complex and intersectional backgrounds. The project is designed to promote empowerment, self-expression, and educational continuity beyond compulsory schooling, offering creative tools to envision and shape new personal and professional futures.
Between 2023 and 2024, we carried out a 2-year pilot project which focused on researching social inclusion strategies and creating professional opportunities for young vulnerable women at risk of exclusion. The ten female students (16-18 yrs) involved in the project came from two different high schools in the city of Barcelona in Spain. Concurrently, they participated in performative arts learning activities organized by the theatre school. One main activity was the co-creation of a theatre play that included the personal experiences of each of the students about what it means to be a teenager in an at-risk community. This co-creation process was facilitated by three professional theatre teachers. In parallel, we conducted several educational activities to introduce and train the students in digital technologies in the context of performative art practices. At the same time, the activities included a co-creation process of interactive scenery and costumes of the theatre play.
Here you can find a documentary about the project (in Spanish).
ACTFEM Didactic Toolkit for Secondary School Teachers
This project was also part of a research initiative (November 2023 to October 2024) supported by the Spanish Ministry of Equality’s Women’s Institute in collaboration with the Open University of Catalonia (GenTIC, Milagros Sainz Ibanez). The research aimed to create a didactic toolkit with educational resources to reflect on the ethical impact of Artificial Intelligence and combat gender bias and other prejudices present in AI-based digital tools. The project focused on fostering inclusive and ethical approaches to AI in the classroom. Through participatory methodologies, including workshops, debates, and co-creation activities, the toolkit empowers students to question biases and stereotypes in digital technologies, while supporting teachers in integrating gender-aware digital content into their curriculum.
A project with European reach
In collaboration with Asociatia Transcena (Romania) and TENet-Gr – Hellenic Theatre/Drama & Education Network (Greece), #ACTFEM is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme. Spanning 28 months (from October 2024 to January 2027), the initiative not only impacts local communities but is also designed for replication across Europe, ensuring its methodologies and outcomes can benefit a broader audience.
