As for the Soviet society, the equality of men and women was only declared but did not really exist. If we speak about equality we should take into consideration definite actions, which really guarantee the equality.

Nowadays in Belarus such spheres as policy, economy, legislation and ethical norms still target men. Women’s educational practice as an alternative to a traditional men’s approach is orientated to a polyphony of truth and knowledge. Expressing the aspirations of the individual, it becomes more important to accentuate a multiplication of life styles and different types of thinking; all underlining tolerance and freedom. Such an approach advances the unique and inimitable character of the personality. Women seem less strict than men, favouring discussion, reflection, dialogue and support openness towards expressing different opinions. Sharing feelings and experiences, emphasising interconnection, linking experience and knowledge seem in general to be favoured more by women than by men. This is one additional reason why it is necessary to involve women in practical public activities. Not only does it facilitate the growth of women’s self-esteem and conscience, helping women to elaborate critical attitude to real life situations, but also it fosters a good society. Traditions, which humiliate women’s personality and limit their potential do not foster good societies.

Educational approaches towards such goals become particularly important in societies, where an internal psychological unacceptability of another religion or opinion is part of everyday tradition and life. Such out-dated views are stereotypes and are in such societies unfortunately espoused and followed by women themselves. Also in Belarus, we have the idea of "being better" than the other and there is rather hostility than tolerance and understanding of other confessions.

Within the last 80 years the Church had to survive under Communist ideology pressure. Today we seem to live in a society, which is increasingly void of moral values. It is therefore important to find ways to dialogue between religious communities, where the desire to share will take the place of the fear to lose identity; where arrogance will give in to mutual respect and willingness to communicate.

The Belo Russian Ecumenical Christian group appeared as a result of women’s work on providing help and assistance to children who suffered from the Chernobyl disaster. This group includes the "strict" Christians (members of the Orthodox Church), those who traditionally consider themselves to belong to a certain confession and those who because of the existing political situation in ex-USSR do not take part in any church ceremonies. Nevertheless, all of them were and are now people, who believe in God. The Church is the only support for them in this particular situation. In March 1999, we organised and conducted together with the Evangelical Academy in Mülheim an ecumenical meeting called "The First European Women Academy: in Search of Spirituality and Wisdom". This first experience showed and proved to the women of different confessions how interesting and "safe" it can be to communicate with each other, to follow as it were together Miriam’s way of deliverance. Each of us has his/her own way.

Irina Grushewaya is working in Minsk, Belarus in an organisation to help the victims of the Chernobyl disaster.