Paperboat were thrilled to visit the Peace Hut in Monrovia, Liberia. Liberian women were instrumental in securing peace for their country after years of civil war, and have transformed the idea of 'palava huts' where conflicts occurred into 'peace huts' where women come together and work for peace. All sorts of wonderful things happen there - they are safe spaces, spaces to learn, to sing, support each other and to organise. Thank you for a wonderful visit!

In March, Paperboat along with new associate John Kabia from the Fund for Global Human Rights visited Liberia to witness the valuable work being undertaken by Kvinna till Kvinna funded partner organisations working to support women’s empowerment. Women’s organisations across Liberia are playing a crucial role in supporting women’s economic empowerment, raising awareness of gender-based violence and increasing political participation amongst women. The Liberian women’s movement has also been instrumental to ensuring successful peace talks with warlords, that led to the ending of its Civil War. 

Paperboat have undertaken a baseline study of partner organisations work being delivered across Liberia and in April, had the opportunity to return to Monrovia to deliver a two-day capacity building training for nine Kvinna till Kvinna partners, examining how organisations can creatively capture impact of activities through simple monitoring and evaluations systems. 

Meg Aubrey, Paperboat Director said: 'It has been a privilege and an inspirational trip traveling across Liberia to witness the fantastic work that has been undertaken by these organisations.'

Paperboat have been in Turkey and Lebanon meeting women's rights organisations and activists Kvinna till Kvinna are supporting. These women work tirelessly despite enormous challenges to improve the lives of Syrian women.  Together they are building a strong women's movement, celebrating the strength of Syrian women and championing their empowerment. Seriously impressive and inspiring women. Thanks again to Kvinna till Kvinna for this wonderful opportunity to support such important work.
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Paperboat are pleased to be working again with Kvinna till Kvinna, a hugely impressive Swedish organisation that seeks to empower women and women's movements globally. They support carefully selected partners in delivering women's empowerment programmes and peace building projects in post conflict countries. 
Paperboat will be travelling to Liberia to work with 9 women's organisations that focus on increasing women's participation in decision-making and peace building, promoting women's economic empowerment and responding to gender-based violence.

To find out more about the women's movement in Liberia watch 'Pray the Devil Back to Hell'. http://www.forkfilms.net/pray-the-devil-back-to-hell/


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​Paperboat have been delighted to work with The Asfari Foundation, a Syrian family charitable fund, to explore the feasibility of creating a new scholarship umbrella fund to support Syrian refugees living in Lebanon to access higher education. 

Paperboat undertook a rewarding two week field trip to Lebanon to inform the feasibility study. This included visiting the Mother and ​Child Welfare Society in Beirut that offers vocational training in childcare and nursing. The Asfari Foundation currently funds the MCW Society to support 12 Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian students from low-income families to access childcare and nursing training. Asfari is looking to expand its support in the region in 2017.  

Be Me! is a Community Action Project building confidence in young people. Paperboat supported young people from Mess Up The Mess Theatre Company, to evaluate the successful Be Me Project, a collaboration between young people from John Lloyd School and Coedcae School in South Wales. The evaluation study was delivered through a celebratory event to explore ways of encouraging improved self confidence in young people.

Paperboat have been commissioned to externally evaluate Mess up the Mess's 'Dream On' three year programme, a major new project engaging young people from across South Wales to investigate the issues and problems that affect them and their communities and work together to make a real difference. Along the way, they learn key transferable skills and raise their aspirations and self-esteem.

For more information about Mess Up The Mess visit: www.messupthemess.co.uk

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For the past 5 months, Paperboat having been working with Kvinna till Kvinna, a women’s empowerment organisation supporting women who are affected by war and conflict to increase their power and influence.

Paperboat visited and interviewed staff from over 20 organisations from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon to complete a detailed baseline study of Kvinna till Kvinna work supporting women’s empowerment work in the MENA region.

This culminated in an inspiring  2-day monitoring and evaluation training session run by Paperboat in Jordan, May 2016. This was an opportunity to share Paperboat’s key recommendations from the baseline study and explore ways that the Kvinna till Kvinna MENA staff team can more effectively evidence their success.