Piloting Phase 1
The ManUp4Her piloting phase evaluated educational resources—podcasts, eBooks, infographics, and real-life case studies—designed to engage men in the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV). Piloting was carried out by five partner organizations: Bildungsnetzwerk Magdeburg gGmbH (EJBM) and Jugend- & Kulturprojekt e.V. (JKPeV) in Germany, KAINOTOMIA & SIA EE in Greece, Università degli Studi di Torino (UniTo) in Italy, and Asociación Let Her In Internacional in Spain. In total, 54 men aged 17 to 52 took part, representing diverse backgrounds such as education, engineering, activism, and social work.
Each session blended structured content with interactive discussion, using surveys and open-ended feedback to assess participants’ understanding, emotional engagement, and perceived usefulness of the materials. The analysis revealed strong outcomes across all countries. Participants reported a significantly improved understanding of GBV concepts, praised the clarity of definitions, and appreciated the real-world scenarios that helped contextualize the issue.
In Germany, EJBM and JKPeV sessions emphasized the need for deeper reflection on GBV in everyday spaces—particularly workplaces and families. Participants responded positively to bystander strategies and highlighted the importance of emotional self-awareness when confronting normalized violence. The combination of audio-visual content and real statistics was especially effective.
In Greece, participants praised the engaging delivery, including quizzes and gamified elements, which helped break down complex ideas. They found the content “inspiring and eye-opening,” especially around societal roles and how men can actively support victims and disrupt violence cycles.
At UniTo in Italy, participants with academic and activist experience appreciated the well-structured design, the integration of data with storytelling, and its direct relevance to training and education. They called for stronger, clearer calls to action to help men move from awareness to advocacy.
In Spain, Let Her In’s participants—educators, youth workers, and community leaders—valued the practical utility of the resources and planned to use them in workshops. Their main suggestion was to include more survivor testimonies to enhance emotional connection and audience engagement.
Overall, the materials were consistently rated as clear, relevant, and impactful. The pilotings demonstrated their effectiveness in not only informing participants but also motivating them to act. The feedback gathered now informs final refinements: enhancing emotional resonance, strengthening calls to action, and adding culturally diverse, real-life stories to increase engagement across broader audiences.
Piloting Phase 2
The partnership implemented piloting sessions in order to test and evaluate the “Know the signs: Preventing gender-based violence before it happens” educational videos and the “He said. She said” vlog series with experts.
EJBM
In Magdeburg, the piloting event brought together a mixed group of professionals, youth workers, and volunteers hosted by EJBM. The session introduced the ManUp4Her project and its key resources, highlighting the importance of bystander intervention. A practical example was provided through the presentation of the video Recognising Gender-based Violence at Home and the interview with Frank Scheinert from Federal Coordination Office for the Protection of Male Victims of Violence. A reflection activity encouraged open dialogue on the forms, challenges, and solutions related to gender-based violence.
JKPeV
During the Political Art Days, an education and art festival for global learning in Dresden, the piloting event brought together young adults, students, and activists interested in global citizenship and social justice. With this year’s focus on how challenges in the Global North connect to global issues, the session highlighted gender-based violence as a widespread phenomenon affecting people everywhere. Organized by JKPeV and Cambio e.V., the event introduced the ManUp4Her project and key resources, including the video Recognising Gender-Based Violence in Public and an interview with Marie Cucurella on GBV and masculinities. Through group discussions, interactive activities, and case studies, participants explored how policies, education, and cultural factors can both perpetuate existing gender norms and drive positive change toward more equal societies.
KAINOTOMIA
KAINOTOMIA conducted a focused piloting session with male employees of the Green Innovative Company to test two key ManUp4Her results, a “Know the signs: Preventing gender-based violence before it happens” video and a “He said. She said.” vlog interview, both designed to help recognise GBV and highlight the positive role of men as allies. The session encouraged open dialogue, connecting the materials to real workplace experiences and everyday behaviours. Engagement was high, with participants responding actively and reflecting on practical steps to prevent GBV.
UniTo
UniTo conducted its pilot with a mixed group of students and young professionals who were genuinely curious to discuss how gender expectations shape everyday life. The group watched a short video on subtle forms of violence and an interview about allyship, which led to an honest conversation about attitudes, language, and the quiet moments where harm can begin. Participants related the materials to situations from classes, friendships, and campus life, and many shared small actions they felt ready to take to create more respectful spaces. The session had a relaxed, open atmosphere, and several participants said they wanted to continue the conversation beyond the workshop.
LetHerIn
The “Let Her In” piloting sessions held in Reus reflected many of the characteristics found in workplaces across Catalonia. Participants approached these sessions from various perspectives; some with curiosity, others with a more pragmatic outlook. Participants found common ground as they identified similarities between the scenarios presented and their own experiences in the workplace. The piloting helped create opportunities for participants to reflect on what they could do together to change their work environments, a common thread across all the Catalan workplaces involved in these sessions. As a result of the piloting, all participants developed greater confidence in themselves and their ability to foster a safe environment where colleagues can support one another before harmful behaviours arise.
