Student of Savremena Gimnazija Kai Vainomaa awarded for her participation in the competition Working Together for Gender Equality

Year 12 student of Savremena Gimnazija, Kai Vainomaa, was awarded for her participation in the competition Working Together for Gender Equality aimed at combating gender stereotypes and all forms of gender-based violence and discrimination.


In honour of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women observed on November 25 every year, and based on the Memorandum of Cooperation between France and Serbia signed during the visit of the French President Emmanuel Macron to Serbia, the Embassy of France in Serbia, the French Institute in Serbia, and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development launched this pilot project designed for secondary school students in Serbia, and aimed at combating gender stereotypes, and violence against women.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development offered special thanks to Savremena Gimnazija on participating in the competition, their motivation and support to both male and female students, and on encouraging them to continue promoting the prevention against gender-based violence and discrimination.
Kai Vainomaa, Year 12 student of Savremena Gimnazija, was awarded for her essay titled Superfluous Person, which demonstrated her awareness and engagement in the combat against gender stereotypes. Read Kai's essay, because it will most certainly not leave you indifferent.

Superfluous Person (Kai Vainomaa)

There are moulds we need to fit in when we live in a certain environment. Sometimes, those moulds are too tight, but sometimes, we can choose the shape that fits us. Either way, we need to find a place where we belong and where we will never feel superfluous.
Imagine this: there's me trying to fit into society, and there is a whole country where women are trying to equate themselves with men. They are superfluous there, breeding machines and domestic servants. But, it's not just about that: they are not even allowed access to secondary education, the right to work, to earn their living and to become self-sufficient. They are forced to satisfy other people's needs and demands, and fit into the mould forced upon them without protest.
I'm screaming: "Hey, but I'm not a superfluous person, I won't be silent, I won't get married at twelve, and I won't be a slave!" Everyone looks at me in bewilderment, no one says anything, and I, she, and that woman holding a whimpering baby are crying. Will it always be like this? Will anyone ever really hear what we have to say? Women can rule the world just as well as men.
Sometimes I wish I had been born thirty years later so that my future child wouldn't have to watch how women are robbed of their rights and mothers of their children on TV. I'm afraid I won't live to see the moment when everyone is given the same chance. The moment when "he helps her and she helps him". I'm lucky that I was raised in a family where I wasn't less appreciated because I was born female, where the walls of my room weren't pink by default, but the colour I myself chose. In my family, football is not a male sport only, and no one ever told me when I should get married. But, my childhood is one in a million.
Although it may not seem so, most women and girls dream of such small, seemingly inconsequential freedom at a time when appearances and superficial impressions are valued more than intellect and wit. I used to be very sad, or terribly angry for going through a period when boys took liberties with my body because they believed it wouldn't bother me, on the contrary, that I 'enjoyed' it. Then I realized that I am the only 'master' of my body, and that I will never allow anyone to go against my wishes ever again.
Sometimes people even start to listen to what we have to say, but then they misunderstand the message. Feminism is often interpreted as an attempt to make man superfluous, or as a meaningless and fanatical opposition to the male gender by unreasonable and aggressive women, but this is a gross misconception.
Women want peace. Equality for all, regardless of gender, sex or nationality. They want to be able to go outside without their short skirt being used as a justification for rape. They want to walk the streets without having to listen to catcalls.
I'm shouting: "I want to be the same as you! I want my voice to be heard although I'm a physically weaker sex, I want to have the same rights, the same opportunities, because I'm not a superfluous person! Nobody is!"

I am extremely pleased and proud to be the parent of a Savremena student. During my first encounter with the school management, when I asked about my child’s potential enrolment, I saw how much love, enthusiasm and professionalism you put in your work. I was impressed by your approach, ideas and methods. I couldn’t believe something like this existed in our country! It doesn’t take long to realise that this is a school you would recommend to everyone. Creativity, modern technology, top-quality education, and most of all, the humaneness that can be seen throughout the school, make it truly different and worthy of its name – Savremena Gimnazija. With such an approach, the success of this school and, consequently, our children’s success, is unavoidable. Congratulations! Jelena Đorđević, Andrija’s mum
Contemporary in any sense of the word, our school offers functional knowledge and quality preparation for tertiary education in Serbia and abroad. Implementing modern and creative teaching in the classroom, where the teachers’ pedagogy and students’ performance are aligned with the highest academic standards for the high-school finals, our school develops linguistic, mathematical, scientific, artistic, cultural, technical and ICT competence, which is a prerequisite for further education and professional development. Teaching is supported by the interactive whiteboards and educational software, whereas practice exercises research and critical thinking.