Preventive work against violence with a focus on masculinity norms

Haparanda Municipality wanted to strengthen the school staff’s competence of in violence prevention work, norms around masculinity, and handling of exposure to violence. The goal was not only to identify potential knowledge gaps but also to establish a solid knowledge foundation to practically apply in their daily work.

Amphi has always been actively involved in the work of redefining norms around masculinity and creating space for boys and young men to embrace new and diverse identities. We were pleased to receive a request with this theme at the center.

Our first step was to conduct a survey to identify the school staff’s specific training needs. Together with Haparanda Municipality, we analysed the results and made decisions about the direction of the upcoming training. This step was crucial to tailor interventions according to the actual needs of the participants.

Two experienced trainers from Amphi held the two-day training with the aim of offering a deep and comprehensive understanding of violence prevention work, masculinity norms, and violence exposure.

• Strategies for preventing violence in the school environment
• Shifting masculinity norms
• The teacher’s central role in the work against violence and vulnerability
• Collegial support for handling violence among children and young people

Following the initial training days, we offered four coaching sessions for smaller groups of school staff. These sessions enabled in-depth discussions and reflections on the topics, providing participants with the opportunity to practically apply the newly acquired knowledge.

The result was a highly appreciated and tailored training that increased the self-confidence and competence of school staff in addressing issues related to violence prevention and masculinity norms. The training also fostered a more conscious and supportive work environment for addressing issues related to violence and norms within the schools.