A midterm report of the project
The project “Challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking” managed by the Åland Island Peace Institute in Finland and Resource Center for Women Marta in Latvia, is now entering in its final year and can account for 48 trained leaders and 21 new girl and boy groups in Åland and Latvia. In total, over 100 youngsters are involved in group activities. We can also present a new project manager, a new project economist and two new Steering Group members. On 17th of January the Peace Institute invited Ålandic medias to talk about how the project was progressing. The press conference resulted in an article in the newspaper Ålandstidningen, an interview in Ålands radio and that week the project manager, Jenny Jonstoij, was interviewed in the TV channel Åland 24. Read a summary of project results and more here (in Swedish).
Deepening training for girl and boy group leaders
On 15th of January deepening training for the girl and boy group leaders were held on Åland within the project “Challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking”. The project is implemented in close partnership with Riga-based Resource Center for Women “Marta” and aims to implementing the unique Nordic Girl and Boy Group method, which provide self worth and autonomy, empowerment and equality among youths.
Research
The research studies potencial impact of the Girls Group and Boys Group method on social identity structure, self-esteem, self-efficacy, gender stereotypes, attitudes, tolerance and inclusion in society. One researcher on Åland and another one in Riga are developing indicators and measurements for evaluating the changes on the group and individual level. Methods include interviews, questionnaires and participatory observation directed at GG and BG members, members in four control groups and leaders. The results will be published in a report. The Research Plan (abbreviated) can be download here.
New Steering Group members
The project’s Steering Group has received two new members, Peter Soderstrom, expert on masculinity issues, from Sweden, and Gun-Mari Lindholm, second deputy speaker of the Parliament of Åland and a member of the parliamentary working group on civil security and anti-trafficking in BSPC (Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference / Baltic MPs).
New Staff Members at ÅIPI
The Åland Islands Peace Institute has recruited two new staff members within the project Challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking. Since December 13 2010 Jenny Jonstoij is the new Manager of the project. Jenny was born on Åland and has previously worked within gender projects in Sweden, among others as National Manager for the Swedish Red Cross’ Allan groups. Since the beginning of January 2011, Gunilla Björkman-Bobb is the financial manager for the EU project “Challenging Gender Roles for Prevention of Trafficking” handling the financial and administrative portions of the project. Gunilla is also working to a lesser extent with the overall financial administration of the Åland Islands Peace Institute. Gunilla is originally from Finland but has for the last thirty years worked as administrator within the non-profit sector in USA.