GRÓ GEST Final Seminar 2026
The 2026 GRÓ GEST cohort will present their final assignments in a full day seminar on May 13th. The presentations will take place at the University of Iceland, in Auðarsalur VHV-023 in Veröld. Each GRÓ GEST Fellow will present their final assignment and a short discussion will follow every presentation.
The final assignments this year are diverse in topics. Among the themes of this years seminar are female participation in various professional sectors such as agriculture and basket weaving, female entrepreneurship and access to financial support, positive masculinity, the effects of traditional gender roles in modern romantic relationships, the impact of war on women's political rights, gendered access to water, gender disparities in antimicrobial resistance, gender based violence, maternal substance abuse, homelessness, period poverty and menstrual education to name a few.
For those unable to join us in person, the event will be streamed through the following link: https://vimeo.com/event/5916577/3d3f8e2ccb?fl=so&fe=fs
8:50-9:00
Welcoming remarks: Margrét Ann Thors, Final Assignment Coordinator and Instructor, GRÓ GEST
9:00-9:50 • SESSION 1
JUSTICE, CONFLICT AND PROTECTION
Moderator: Dr. Margrét Ann Thors
|
Suricia Yatiana Esther Conteh |
Beyond the Law: Access to Justice After Sexual Violence in Sierra Leone |
|
Norah Lumnyi Ngwa |
Combatting the Surge of Conflict-Related Sexual and Physical Violence in Cameroon’s Northwest Region: A Path to Justice, Healing and Empowerment |
|
Daryna-Mariia Zavhorodnia |
The Impact of Russia’s Full-Scale War on Women’s Political Participation in Ukraine |
|
Vikram Amrawanshi |
Gender Justice Behind Prisons: A Study of Women in Pre-Trial Detention and Their Legal Safeguards in the State of Madhya Pradesh, India |
COFFEE BREAK: 10 minutes
10:00-10:50 • SESSION 2
Skills, Livelihoods, and economic participation
Moderator: Dr. Thomas Brorsen Smidt
|
Linda Tali |
Bridging the Gender Gap in Skilled Trades: Empowering Women and Youth in Northern Uganda Through Sustainable Solar Apprenticeship Programs |
|
Phiona Katushabe |
Sustainable Inclusive Employment for Young Women Graduates in Western Uganda |
|
Diana Chepkorir Rotich |
Women’s Participation in the Cooperative Sector: Case Study of West Pokot County |
|
Abraham Danton Namata Banda |
Assessing the Impact of the Grow to Sell Project on Women’s Agricultural Participation: A Case Study of M’bande Group in Chikwawa, Malawi |
COFFEE BREAK: 10 minutes
11:00-11:50 • SESSION 3
Entrepreneurship, technical roles and institutional inclusion
Moderator: Svanhildur Anja Ástþórsdóttir
|
Esther Chinecherem George |
Addressing Gender Barriers in Technical Roles in Nigerian Water Utilities |
|
Hasatu Bah |
Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs in Accessing Financial Support in Sierra Leone |
|
Fatmata Lamrana Sulaiman Barrie |
Gender Roles and Factors Surrounding Women’s Participation in Basket Weaving in Brama Town, Sierra Leone |
|
Nabaggala Resty |
Integrating an Intersectional Gender Lens in Monitoring and Evaluation: Strengthening Equity and Inclusion in NGO Program Assessments in Uganda |
Lunch break: 40 minutes
12:30-13:20 • SESSION 4
Gender, Migration, and Border Politics
Moderator: Dr. Giti Chandra
|
Everlyne Nthenya Mumo |
Street Safe Space Culture: A Project on Creating Gender-Responsive Safe Spaces to Improve Mental Health Among Street-Connected Children and Youth in Mombasa County, Kenya |
|
Gloria E. Swilla |
Addressing Gender Disparities in Antimicrobial Resistance: Empowering Women and Engaging Men in Shinyanga Region, Tanzania |
|
Katrine Enimil Armah |
Unseen and Unheard: The Hidden Struggles and Socioeconomic Impact of Period Poverty Among Migrant Fishers and Head Porters in the Fisheries Sector in Ghana |
|
M. W. Nadeesha Manomi Abeynayake |
The Nexus of Gender Difference, Substance Use and Impending Challenges of Pregnant Women and Neonates in Sri Lanka |
COFFEE BREAK: 10 minutes
13:30-14:20 • SESSION 5
EDUCATION, YOUTH EMPOWERMENT, AND COMMUNITY RIGHTS
Moderator: Anastasía Jónsdóttir
|
Sagar “Silly” Satyal |
Why Emotions Matter: Developing Peaceful and Gender-Equitable Community Schools in Nepal Through Nonviolent Communication |
|
Aftab Ahmad |
AI Literacy for Rural Girls: Bridging the Gender Divide in Lasbela, Balochistan |
|
Nana Akomeah Boateng Yamoah |
SHERISE Project: Supporting High-School Entrepreneurship and Resilience for Inclusive and Sustainable Empowerment |
|
Saniya Giri |
Breaking the Cycle: A Rights-based Community Intervention to Address Menstrual Discrimination in Bajura, Nepal |
COFFEE BREAK: 10 minutes
14:30-15:20 • SESSION 6
Leadership, Masculinities, and Social change
Moderator: Dr. Irma Erlingsdóttir
|
Aro Andriamahenina |
Better Allies: Engaging Men for Gender Equality in CARE Madagascar NGO
|
|
Georgie Al Chidiac |
Negotiating Gender Roles in Dual-Income Marriages in Lebanon: A Study of Couples Seeking Counseling in Beirut |
|
Godfrey Junior Malongo |
Masculinity Performances: Construction, Negotiation and Gendered Practices of Boys in a School Setting |
|
Priyansha Jain |
Women Leaders as Catalysts for Community Development: Empowering Women Panchayat Sahayaks to Become Leaders in Last-Mile Social Security Facilitation in Uttar Pradesh, India |
15:20-15:30
Closing remarks: Prof. Irma Erlingsdóttir, Director GRÓ GEST
