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Description
According to a 2005 WHO report and numerous scientific studies, children and young people who experience peer-on-peer abuse are at major risk of emotional disorders, health problems, and social exclusion. The Mazowieckie voivodship has one of the highest school violence rates - almost 12% of children have experienced cruelty regularly (Violence-free School comparative study of regions 2012). Despite this high rate, no program to protect children who experience abuse has yet been devised in Mazowieckie voivodship. The main objective of this project is to provide support and psychological aid for children in the Mazowieckie voivodship who experience peer-on-peer abuse. We will organize: ten seminars for specialists working in primary schools, psychological and pedagogic advice centers, and in other institutions that support schools, and for Parent Councils one-on-one counselling for children and parents (one-on-one help programs for children), ten training sessions for professionals in the Mazowieckie voivodship on self-confidence coaching, and one-on-one support for children who experience peer-to-peer violence and their parents. We will also produce a handbook for children. The project will increase awareness in the school community of the difficult situation of children who experience cruelty (300 participants in seminars), provide direct psychological support for 150 children who experience violence and their parents, and increase the competencies of 180 school education staff and psychologists.
Summary of project results
The project responds to the problem of peer violence. Children and young people who experience peer violence are a group at high risk of emotional problems, health problems and social exclusion (WHO). Violence and exclusion lead to concentration difficulties, lowered self-esteem, increased anxiety, feelings of alienation from the school environment and avoidance of school. Mazovia is one of the provinces with one of the highest rates of school violence - almost 12% of children are victims of regular bullying (''School without violence'', 2012). Despite this high rate, a comprehensive programme for the protection of children experiencing violence has not yet been developed. Teachers lack knowledge about the phenomenon of violence (TEA 2015, IBE 2015) and competence to deal with the problem. It is common practice to confront victims with perpetrators, to disclose the problem in the classroom (leading to stigmatisation of the victim) and to blame the victims.
The project provided psychological support to children experiencing peer violence in the Mazovian province. 20 seminars were organised for professionals working in primary schools, counselling centres and other school support institutions, as well as workshops for parents'' councils. In addition, 10 training sessions were held for professionals from the Mazovian Voivodeship on how to conduct self-confidence training (the promoter''s own method) and individual support for children experiencing peer violence and their parents. Individual counselling for children and their parents was also provided as part of individual child support plans. A manual for children was also produced.
The project has raised awareness of peer violence among teachers and professionals working with children in schools or counselling centres. A total of 301 people participated in 20 seminars. They developed their skills in responding to peer violence in the school environment and in supporting children and their families. 150 children affected by violence received concrete psychological support. In turn, 208 people, teachers from primary schools, school teams and psycho-educational counselling centres from 20 districts, learned how to conduct self-confidence training for children who have experienced violence. Many of them went on to deliver the training in their communities.