The ERIS team is pleased to announce that Prof. Evert Zinzen, Prof. Hebe Schaillée, Prof. Inge Derom and Dra. Tiphaine Clerincx are the scientific partner of the TPS project, co-funded by the European Commission under the CERV-2022-DAPHNE call. TPS is an acronym for: Transformative Power of Sports for and by students. The project consortium consists of 3 partners: Plan International Belgium (BNO, established in 1983), Plan International Spain (SPNO, established in 2001) and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). The TPS project started in January 2023 and will run for 2 years. It will operate with an awarded budget of € 899,933.13.
Different EU studies show a high prevalence of gender-based violence among the student population, in particular female students, with significant consequences for their psychosocial development and academic performance (1). Gender-based violence is – unfortunately – also a prevalent issue in sports, with e.g., 36% of young Belgians reporting sexual violence (ranging from sexist comments/jokes or comments to sexual assault and rape) at a sports club in the 2021 CASES study (2). Consequently, discussing gender-based violence with physical education students may be deemed particularly relevant and will be an explicit part of the planned activities. The project partners will build on the gender-transformative power of youth-led sports activities for the prevention of gender-based violence in European societies, with physical education students at its heart.
To achieve the project’s general objective, the consortium specifically aims to mobilise around 10.000 young people aged between 14 to 24 years old, in 5 cities located in Belgium (Brussels, Liège) and Spain (Barcelona, Madrid & Valencia). These young people will be getting involved for gender-based violence prevention in various degrees of intensity. This journey will be partially inspired by the Champions of Change methodology developed by Plan International. These young people will be reached in 7 waves of change, consisting of curiosity sessions, focus groups, training sessions on bias, positive masculinities and bystander, international exchange sessions and campaigns led by the young people involved.
As a scientific partner, the VUB - with Dra. Tiphaine Clerincx as the primary researcher - will take the lead on the design of this project’s M&E plan, as part of their effectivity research and consequently contribute to an evidence-based approach on combating gender-based violence in sport. Through the involvement of Plan International Belgium and Plan International Spain, the project has a strong field partner with years of experience working towards ending violence against women and girls, for example through programmes that empower and engage youth such as Safer Cities and Champions of Change.
(1) E.g., Keygnaert, I., De Schrijver, L., Inescu, A. C., Schapansky, E., Nobels, A., Hahaut, B., … Vandeviver, C. (2021). UN-MENAMAIS: understanding the mechanisms, nature, magnitude and impact of sexual violence in Belgium: final report for the Belgian Science Policy Office. Brussels: Belgian Science Policy Office.
(2) E.g., https://sites.edgehill.ac.uk/cpss/projects/child-abuse-in-sport-europea…