UNU-GEST receives 10 million ISK grant for ‘Go for No‘ documentary project
The campaign “Go for No” is undertaken by UNU-GEST and Women in Geothermal Energy (WinG), a non-profit professional association in the geothermal sector, with the primary mission to promote the education, professional development and advancement of women in the geothermal community while raising awareness about women´s issues in the workplace, and in partnership with Bless Bless Productions, run by Susan Muska and Greta Olafsdottir, specialising in productions about gender, women and human rights.
The partners will produce a documentary with case studies comprising of women across four continents around the world. The target individuals are educated, competent achievers in the field of geothermal energy, which is traditionally male-dominated. The project tackles major obstacles that women face in the labour market, through encouraging women working in geothermal to make a “wish list” of issues that are within the scope of their supervisor or organization, such as pay-rises, flexible working hours, changes in working environments and assignments etc. The women are encouraged to break barriers of unheard demands by asking supervisors to be granted certain (or all) items on their wish lists. Ultimately, this exercise reinforces women to demand to be listened to, and to get a clear response.
The documentary filming of women strategizing their “go for the no” will take place in homes, social meeting places, and workplaces of the women. The participation of women from different parts of the world offers a fascinating insight into the lives of professional women in different parts of the world and is an opportunity to track this unique social experiment.
The human face of inequality and efforts to overcome inequality in different cultures are stories of human interest, but can also potentially have an impact on those who participate, and act as a force of change for others to be inspired to be agents of change.
The funding is granted under the Icelandic Gender Equality Fund, administered by the Ministry of Social Welfare, and was established last year to mark the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage. This is the first release of funds from the programme. While 120 applications were received by the fund, 42 applicants were successful. The grant received by UNU-GEST was the largest grant funded by the Icelandic Gender Equality Fund this year and is a partial funding of the larger project with a specific focus on women in geothermal in Iceland and Kenya.
The project is expected to begin in July 2016 and reach completion by summer 2017.