Developing and Piloting Play-Based Participatory Tools for Collecting Evidence on Gender-Based Violence Amongst Children and Adolescents in Uganda and Lebanon.

• In Event: Learning In And With The Community

Proposal

The proposed research study aims to develop and pilot play-based participatory tools for collecting evidence on gender-based violence (GBV) among children and adolescents in Uganda and Lebanon. It aligns with the conference's theme of advancing educational equity and social justice by exploring innovative approaches to understand and address gender norms and violence in vulnerable communities. The three-year study is funded by the Global Women's Institute and implemented by Right to Play International (RTP), the latter being an organization dedicated to protecting, educating, and empowering children and youth through play. RTP currently operates in 15 countries, reaching out to children in challenging environments, empowering them with knowledge and skills to drive positive change in their lives, families, and communities.

This applied research study was conducted in Uganda and Lebanon, where Right to Play has been active since 2001 and 2006, respectively, working in refugee settings and other vulnerable communities across both countries. The study was driven by Right to Play's need to understand adolescents' views on societal gender norms, their experiences with GBV in humanitarian settings, and the impacts of GBV on their lives. The rationale for employing play-based participatory tools is their capacity to offer valuable insights into sensitive topics such as GBV, capturing direct perspectives and facilitating a nuanced understanding of attitudes, opinions, emotions, and gender norms, thereby enhancing data comprehensiveness. Moreover, the alignment with Right to Play's existing programming makes these tools more accessible and engaging for adolescents, empowering their voice and agency. Lastly, involving adolescents at various stages of the research process fosters a stronger sense of ownership and relevance to the study.

The research, therefore, aimed to develop and pilot participatory tools to assess the impact of Right to Play's gender-responsive play-based programming on gender norms related to GBV, answering the following research questions:

How effective are play-based tools for collecting and understanding evidence of social norm change related to GBV amongst adolescents in refugee settings in Uganda and Lebanon?

How can the use of these play-based tools be scaled up and applied to gender equality programming in humanitarian settings?

The research study consisted of three phases. In phase 1, community needs assessments were conducted to identify gaps in knowledge, and existing tools were reviewed to understand gender norms related to GBV. Based on insights from stakeholders, draft play-based tools were developed, including journaling/writing, drawing, vignettes, and drama. Moving on to phase 2, a manual with research tools and ethical guidelines was created, and Right to Play staff and junior leaders from the communities underwent training on tool usage. The tools were then pre-tested, piloted, and tailored to the specific contexts of Uganda and Lebanon. Finally, phase 3 involved collecting feedback from the piloting phase, conducting psycho-social training with the field staff, and continuing the piloting of tools. Participatory data analysis then took place with the active involvement of adolescents. To finalize the research, findings, and insights from both countries, as well as those from the global Right to Play staff and the donor, were then consolidated in a joint workshop.

This presentation will provide a brief background on the methodology used, key findings and recommendations from both countries. Findings summarized, were divided into three areas:

Findings related to the GBV context in both countries:

The research conducted in both countries revealed that participatory play-based tools facilitated easier disclosure of GBV experiences among adolescents, promoting open communication. In Uganda, the drawing tool and the mapping of safe and unsafe spaces provided valuable insights, indicating that markets, cinema halls, and other public places were perceived as unsafe for adolescent boys and girls. On the other hand, in Lebanon, the journaling and vignette tools demonstrated that female youth felt marginalized by the community, resisting traits that promote their independence.

Findings related to the use of play-based participatory tools for data collection,

The use of participatory play-based tools created a safe environment for adolescents to openly discuss sensitive gender issues, especially when facilitated by same-gender participants. Tool effectiveness varied based on age group, gender, and literacy levels, with shorter, focused sessions introduced for physically active tools due to diminishing concentration. Pre-testing revealed that staff and junior leaders involved in data collection lacked the necessary capacity to respond adequately to distressed survivors of GBV, leading to the implementation of Psychological First Aid (PFA) training for improved support.

Findings related to conducting participatory data analysis with participants,

The findings emphasized that adolescents were actively engaged in analyzing GBV data, which led to the development of practical solutions for addressing vulnerabilities and risks. It was observed that conducting participatory data analysis directly after collecting data with the same groups of adolescents yielded more successful outcomes.

The recommendations provided below address common challenges encountered in conducting participatory research, with a specific focus on research on gender-based violence (GBV). The study findings highlighted the importance of segregating groups by gender and having same-gender facilitators to ensure effective data collection in targeted communities. Equipping note-takers with skills to capture non-verbal expressions and using simple note-taking templates, while maintaining control over the data collection space, were identified as crucial factors for ensuring data quality. Recording the sessions was advised to facilitate accurate data transcription. Furthermore, it was recommended to contextualize tools culturally by adapting language, terms, and examples provided to avoid any potential provocation. Lastly, the study emphasized the significance of equipping field staff with psychosocial first aid (PFA) skills to respond appropriately to the needs of survivors.

In conclusion, the research study demonstrated the effectiveness of participatory play-based tools in fostering a safe and open environment for adolescents to discuss sensitive gender issues without reservations. Tailoring approaches based on age, gender, and literacy levels proved essential for effective engagement with the tools. The recommendations emphasize the importance of same-gender facilitators, note-taker skills, data control, contextualization, and equipping field staff with psychosocial first aid (PFA) skills to ensure well-being of participants. Overall, the research offers valuable insights for enhancing gender equality programming in humanitarian settings and empowering adolescents.

Author

• Ghinwa Monzer, Right To Play International