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Description
In this project we deal with the problem of increasing violence in families and the lack of access to specialist help for victims and perpetrators of violence. The project’s beneficiaries are parents who would like their children not to become victims of violence and to cope with challenges, children who have problems with controlling their emotions, and people who have already experienced violence. We provide workshops, individual therapy and consultations. We offer legal advice in the form of regular lawyer''s duty taking place in the foundation''s office or online. We support parents in recognising what is important in raising their children and what is worth letting go of, so that the children feel safe and loved. We run classes for children and young people with emotional and attention deficit disorders. We teach children and young people to act effectively, control their emotions and build relationships with others. We show that there is a way out of every situation and everyone can change their life. We develop the ability to "put out family fires" and rebuild relationships. Individual therapy is aimed at adults who are perpetrators or victims of violence. These include addicts and people with poor parenting skills. Teachers, social workers and probation officers take part in workshops for professionals. During the workshops the participants develop skills to support their clients to make positive changes in their lives. Individual consultations for parents take place online, on the Zoom platform. During the meetings we discuss how to better cope with the child, react to its difficult emotions and mobilize cooperation. We also invite parents-to-be to participate in the consultations.
Summary of project results
The project responded to the problem of the inability of commune residents to use specialized support in the field of personal development. The low level of knowledge about domestic violence means that many people do not realize that they are dealing with it (National diagnosis of the phenomenon of domestic violence in 2019 - Kantar Polska report for the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Policy shows that most respondents consider domestic violence to be only extreme physical violence) and what impact it has on the functioning of the family. Specialists indicate that victims of domestic violence usually have low self-esteem, are afraid of changes, and children from such families often repeat behavioral patterns known from home, i.e. they themselves become perpetrators of violence.
Due to the small number of workplaces in the commune, many families live in separation because one of the parents works abroad. This situation causes disturbances in family relationships.
The problem of domestic violence often has its source in the way schools operate. Students are assessed mainly through the prism of the mistakes they make, and as a result, they develop a sense of lack of skills and have lower self-esteem. Neurobiologists say that for proper social and emotional development, a child needs success and peace, and numerous school failures cause children to react to them at home. Very often, these failures are negatively perceived by parents who expect their children to succeed. It is this lack of expectations and outcomes that causes schooling to cause tension in the family. Since the foundation''s members receive information from residents that teachers often cause children''s problems, it was deemed necessary to include this group in the project activities.
There is an AA group in the commune, which brings together a small number of people addicted to alcohol, but this does not solve many problems.
Four actions were implemented:
– workshops for specialists – teachers, social care workers, police, probation officers and psychological and pedagogical counseling centers – 24 hours,
– workshops for parents – 18 hours,
– individual consultations and therapies – the largest group of participants were parents who needed support in resolving conflicts with their children; Children also participated in the classes and worked on their ability to deal with emotions. For the implementation of the activity, funds were obtained for the purchase of modules expanding the EEG biofeedback system, i.e. the respiratory and HEG modules. A total of 400 hours of support were provided,
– legal advice – 40 hours.
Individual consultations were very popular - they were mainly used by parents who wanted to find out what they could do to deal with their children''s inappropriate behavior. A group of mothers worked exceptionally actively at workshops for parents. The ladies supported each other in coping with everyday life, learned to recognize their own and family members'' feelings and respond to them appropriately. Legal advice was also popular - particularly important for the participants of this form of support was the opportunity to have a lawyer help them prepare procedural documents.
A total of 98 people took part in all forms of support. The activities were carried out stationary and online.
Participants of workshops for specialists acquired the ability to motivate people under their care to set and achieve development goals, including recognizing the real needs of people in difficult situations.
During workshops and individual consultations, a group of parents gained knowledge about children''s emotional development and their needs in this area. She learned to recognize emotions and cope effectively, which resulted in better conflict resolution and the atmosphere at home. The participants learned that they must first take care of their own emotional needs, because only then their emotions allow them to build proper relationships in the family.
14 people who benefited from EEG biofeedback therapy learned to recognize their emotional state and effectively modulate it, which resulted in their increased sense of agency and effectiveness.
Participants of legal advice gained knowledge about possible ways to solve their problems.