Re-GROUP
Reinforced and upgraded youth group methodology on building healthy relationships (Re-GROUP) is a 22-month KA2 project funded by the Erasmus + program that focuses on the use of the Youth Group methodology, developed by the MARTA Center in Latvia.
The Project
Project
Reinforced and upgraded youth group methodology on building healthy relationships
Project number
2020-2-LV02-KA205-003201
Type of project
KA2 project
Programme
Erasmus+
Time period
2020 - 2023
Context
In 2010, MARTA Centre started a prevention program – Youth Group methodology. It was created through years of piloting by young people for young people (ages 12-18) who are building their adult selves so this transition can be as free, healthy and empowering as possible. The methodology has proved itself to be a meaningful educational tool in the context of Latvia. ReGROUP will cover the need for bigger and broader research on the topic. Equally important is testing, evaluating and ratifying this methodology internationally. When children move into early adolescence, they begin to take on new gender roles, often reinforcing socially and culturally conventional gender norms related to being women or men.
These roles have an impact on the decisions that people in early adolescence make in relation to sexual and interpersonal relationships, which can affect their health and wellbeing throughout the rest of their lives. Gender norms and beliefs have significant implications for both girls and boys in terms of child marriage, early school leaving, pregnancy, HIV and sexually transmitted infection risk, violence exposure, depression, physical violence, substance abuse and suicide. Such differences are socially, not biologically determined. Mental health issues need to be addressed as part of adolescent well-being and in order to ensure health throughout people’s lives, it is crucial that countries address gender inequality, violence and healthy relationships in early adolescence.
Objectives
To answer these identified needs, through the adaptation and piloting of the Youth Group Methodology (YGM) and qualitative and quantitative research, Re-GROUP has set as objectives to:
Actions
These objectives will be achieved through the following actions:
Results
The project Re-Group will produce three Intellectual Outputs: Youth Group Methodology Manual (IO1), National Research on Violence and Wellbeing in Youth (IO2), Policy Recommendations (IO3).
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