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In March, doctorate candidate Maria Auxiliadora Castillo Soto was invited to participate in an event titled “Feminism in the Global South: Shedding a Light on Underrepresentation,” organized by UNICEF Student Team Utrecht and Feles in Felium (FIF) at Utrecht University. Castillo Soto presented her experience as a Latin American early-career scholar in the Netherlands, where she is completing her PhD trajectory. She talked about her research and the Euterpe project and the different output that the consortium has developed so far. The stage was shared with Ana Maria Miranda Mora, an Assistant Professor of Gender and Postcolonial Studies, and Vinícius Garcia Fonseca, a PhD candidate in Gender Studies. On the one hand, Miranda Mora presented her work on different feminist groups in Mexico, positioning structural violence and imperialism as undeniable players in violent acts against women. She explained how different feminist groups raise their voice and act against these social and governmental oppressors. On the other hand, Garcia Fonseca presented her personal experience and connections to feminism in Brazil, his home country, and how the work he does on memory studies focuses on uncovering stories and voices purposely left out from hegemonic historical accounts. At the end of the evening, there was a panel discussion where participants asked questions to the three speakers. The conversation was fruitful and engaging around the topics of transnational feminism(s), academia, legislation, and important topics around the event’s main theme.

When the planning for the EUTERPE Project started in 2021, one of the first people we reached out to for support and participation was Susan Stanford Friedman (1943–2023). Known for her research in literary and gender studies, whose wide interests included women’s literature, modernity, migration/diaspora studies, global and transnational literatures, and postcolonial studies , Susan Friedman was an author whose work was seminal for the research done in EUTERPE. We were happy and honoured when she accepted our invitation, looking forward to four years of cooperation. However, unfortunately, soon after the start of the project she passed away. It was a hard blow for many of us gathered around EUTERPE, because for us Susan was much more than a highly respected and influential scholar. She was a special friend known for her warm personality and intellectual generosity. She selflessly shared her knowledge, supported the work of her colleagues and engaged in teaching and promoting young scholars.  This lecture series was created in her honour, to celebrate her legacy and to keep her presence alive. Thank you to Susan’s friends, colleagues, students, and admirers who hosted and delivered these memorial lectures. And thank you to Susan, a dedicated feminist who has touched our lives and who will continue to inspire us in the years to come.  Lecture Titles:  Reshuffling: Feminist Collaboration and Transnational Solidarity with Rebecca L. Walkowitz “Use the Words You Have to Get the Words You Need” with Kimberly Campanello Ruins, Fragments, and the Word: War, Memory, and Utopian Vision in H.D.’s Late Poetry with Raffaella Baccolini The three lectures were delivered at one of our biannual EUTERPE Doctoral Schools hosted by participating universities.  The lectures can be accessed on our website, youtube channel, and soundcloud: https://www.euterpeproject.eu/podcast-library https://youtube.com/@euterpepodcast?si=nZT7Q6iRLvWSigYN https://on.soundcloud.com/khGxy7GFM6JDJ2TeuF

In September, doctorate candidate María Auxiliadora Castillo Soto organized and delivered a workshop as part of her internship with ILFU. ILFU  is the International Literature Festival in Utrecht, who hosts and organizes the biggest literature festival in the Netherlands. This year’s festival lasted two weeks and presented over 200 authors from different countries to an audience of +20,000 who attended the different events offered. Aside from the festival, ILFU also organizes other public events and offer a range of writing and reading courses through their ILFU Academy platform. It was in this platform that our doctorate candidate hosted the ILFU Academy Workshop on Life Writing . The workshop was open to the public. Auxi Castillo Soto introduced varied concepts on transnational life writing and provided different prompts to practice free and speed writing on a topic of the participants’ preference. Participants shared their writing experience and their written texts with others. In subgroups, they listen to each other, provided feedback and generated discussions. Life writing serves as a healing process of expression, more so, if done in communal spaces. Auxi Castillo Soto make sure to provide participants with a safe space to experiment and practice with life writing as a tool to find their own voice and share their stories. Besides the participatory aspect of the workshop, participants discussed the topic of life writing with  Alejandra Ortiz  and  Chérissa Iradukunda,  two first-time authors who published their migratory journeys to the Netherlands. First, the authors read excerpts from their transnational life writing narratives, and later, participants asked them questions about their books, their stories, and their experiences as life writing authors. This Q&A session was recorded and it can be found as a podcast in EUTERPE’s Podcast Library . This was a great experience for Auxi Castillo Soto who learned about the Dutch working environment and acquired important soft skills to enhance her professional profile and CV. We want to thank for becoming a project’s partner and allowing the doctorate candidate the space to develop such an enriching workshop.

The aim of EUTERPE: European Literatures and Gender from a Transnational Perspective is to offer an innovative approach to rethinking European cultural production in the light of complex social and political negotiations that are shaping European spaces and identities at present. Latest Publications Reading for Each Other Creative book reviews that facilitate an exchange of literature between doctoral candidates, allowing them to better understand each other's lives and work. Publications by Doctoral Candidates Publications by Doctoral Candidates A collection of writing – papers, articles, peer-reviewed publications, books and other media produced by the doctoral candidates. Project Updates Feminism in the Global South The Susan Stanford Friedman Lecture Series Life Writing Workshop Renewed purpose and perspectives. Reflections on the Black Europe Summer School (Amsterdam, 22 June – 4 July 2025) Exploring Feminisms in a Transnational Perspective at Postgraduate Course in Dubrovnik A Collision with Truth – Palestinian British Voices Panel All news (8) 8 posts

About the Project EUTERPE The Consortium Doctoral Candidates

Central European University Jasmina Lukić Principal Leader Petra Bakos Researcher Noemi Anna Kovacs European Cooperation Officer Kris Országhová Project Administrator