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'Schools without violence' in Bihać, Bosnia-Herzegovina
01/04/08 — After the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, there has been a great increase in the use of violence in order to solve conflicts. Violence has even become increasingly more acceptable. The upsurge of violence can be attributed to the effect of war and the economic crisis in the country. In schools too, there has been a visible increase in the use of bullying and violence. Teachers have had no training in dealing with this behaviour and are at a loss what to do.
In the autumn of 2007, all this led the organisation ALFA, with financial support from Kinderpostzegels, to instigate an initiative to prevent and reduce violence at two schools in Bihać. About 600 children and their parents, 35 teachers and 25 key figures from the community were involved in the initiative "I have the right to education without violence."
ALFA's activities include the organisation of workshops for the pupils, involving role play and creative artwork, workshops for teachers, and lectures for parents and key figures in the community. The pupils draw up class rules themselves and there is a committee of children to formulate school rules. In addition, pupils work on the development and distribution of relevant brochures and posters.
The project is highly appropriate to the theme of the Kinderpostzegels 2008 campaign 'Let children learn.'
Project Bosnië-Herzegovina
Melika (12): Een jongen op school schold me vaak uit. Maar sinds we klasse- en schoolregels hebben gemaakt, ga ik weer met plezier naar school.
