Coalition against peer violence in Montenegro

Posted on

June 13, 2021

Coalition against peer violence in Montenegro

Peer violence is a global problem, which seriously affects young people’s health and education. This project looked to develop the capacities of civil society organisations (CSOs) and the overall community response in providing safeguard mechanisms to primary and secondary pupils in Montenegro.

During the implementation period, the project activities helped improve the legal framework on fight against peer violence, particularly through 1) preparation of a National Action Plan for fight against peer violence and local action plans in the municipalities of Berane, Kolašin and Herceg Novi, 2) improvement and distribution of the guidelines entitled “Division of responsibilities and actions for the purpose of prevention and in cases of violence and vandalism” to all primary and secondary schools in Montenegro and 3) amendments to school statutes by introducing the possibility of removing head teachers from position if he/she fails to implement the guidelines.

Also, the project helped establish a national SOS helpline for reporting peer violence, which is managed by the Ministry of Education. Moreover, it also lead to the establishment of: 1) a National Team for fight against peer violence, which is tasked with responding to and proceeding in cases of peer violence, 2) a club composed of parents, children and teachers to help prevent peer violence in at least five schools and 3) school teams for reporting on activities aimed at preventing peer violence.

Furthermore, the project also helped create the MEIS information system for recording peer violence cases in schools and develop a licensed training programme for specialists to act in cases of unacceptable behaviour with children and youth. Additionally, the Institute for Textbook Publishing and Teaching Aids supplemented the Teaching Guidelines for the fourth grade subject Nature and Society with a social experiment conducted within the project to serve as material that children should watch together with their teachers when discussing the topics of equality and tolerance.

Thanks to a sub-granting scheme, the project also resulted in increased awareness of peer violence in the country, as well as in strengthened capacities of 8 CSOs with regard to peer violence.

Project name:

Coalition against peer violence in Montenegro

Sector:

Civil Society

Start time:

01/03/2018

End time:

29/02/2020

Location:

Montenegro

Budget:

257335.00€

Beneficiary:

NGO Parents
Partners: NGO Juventas; NGO Center for Support of Local and Regional Development; NGO Union of High School Students of Montenegro

More info:

https://www.roditelji.me
https://www.facebook.com/roditelji.me
https://twitter.com/roditeljime

News:

Additonal materials:

Video “Ovo NIJE “dječija igra”. PREPOZNAJMO I REAGUJMO. ZAJEDNO.”

Video “Dječija igra ili vršnjačko nasilje?”

Video “Zaštita i podrška djeci s iskustvom vršnjačkog nasilja””

Grants

MIROVNO – Media and Roma organizations on peer violence in education

Implemented by the NGO Monitor Center for Media and Democracy, with an aim to help reducing the level of peer violence against Roma youth. In order to raise awareness of peer violence against members of the Roma community, this sub-grant included production of several research articles. In the research process were also involved journalists from the Roma portal “Romalitika”.

Theater against peer violence

Implemented by the NGO Taraba Training Center, with an aim to prevent peer violence by raising students' awareness about the problem of violence and its consequences through applied theater. With this sub-grant was supported development of the theater play "They Wanted Something Else", based on text by Milena Depolo. The play deals with various forms of peer violence and relationships among young people during the high school period. It was shown in 10 cities in Montenegro, and gathered more than 3,500 spectators. The play received an extraordinary reaction from the audience, including students, teachers and parents, who recognized its message and importance.

Meet, recognize and report e-violence

Implemented by the NGO ZINAK, with an aim to establish a mechanism for the prevention and protection against e-violence among school-age children. Within this sub-grant, 34 workshops and panel discussions about e-violence and cyber bullying were organised. It reached more than 800 students, teachers and parents, supporting them to strengthen their capacities in the fight against e-violence. Also, it supported development of the web site www.stopnasilju.me which serves for providing information about peer violence, reporting the cases of peer violence, as well as to receiving necessary support.

Meet and recognize violence

Implemented by the NGO Children of Montenegro, with an aim to contribute to the prevention of Internet violence against and among children, through the implementation of a comprehensive and sustainable prevention program, and capacity building of teachers and children in schools and other institutions to combat Internet violence. This sub-grant involved 700 students, 65 teachers and 60 parents. It included organization of capacity building training for teaching staff; panels for parents; and workshops, research and presentations for students on how to recognise and prevent Internet violence against and among children. Also, within this sub-grant was formed a working group that developed guidelines and a manual how to prevent and combat e-violence.

Keep it in mind

Implemented by the NGO TNT, with an aim to contribute to prevention of peer violence and students as content creators in the fight against peer violence. Within this sub-grant, a competition for short stories and casting for a play on the topic of peer violence were organised, for young people aged 14 to 18. A total of 68 articles from all over Montenegro were submitted to the competition and authors of the three best stories were awarded. Also, 23 stories were selected and published within the collection of stories "Keep in mind”. A total of 9 young students/actors from three high schools in Podgorica were selected to participate in the play "Puppet". The play was played four times, until the end of the implementation period of this sub-grant.

Tolerance is our choice

Implemented by the NGO SOS line for women and children victims of violence – Ulcinj, with an aim to increase the level of prevention of violence among young people in Ulcinj and empower them to oppose violence at all levels. More specifically, it was aimed at creating a positive school environment in which everyone feels safe, accepted and respected. It included 8 workshops for primary and secondary school students, which were conducted through two developed programs: "Creating a positive classroom" and "10 facts about school violence". These workshops were followed by the distribution of educational material, which was produced in both Montenegrin and Albanian. As the final activity, within this sub-grant was organised a round table with local actors, who had the opportunity to discuss some of the possible joint initiatives to combat peer violence at the local level.

Affirmative sign – the use of symbolic signs for the promotion of positive life values and affirmative action as a tool for prevention of peer violence

Implemented by the NGO Youth Cultural Center Herceg Novi, with an aim to contribute to preventing and combating peer violence by promoting positive values through creative interventions in public spaces. 250 students and 20 teachers participated in its activities and 25 creative workshops were conducted in primary and secondary schools. The workshops combined creative work, followed by discussions on diversity, friendship, tolerance, etc. Each series of 5 workshops ended with a joint painting of a fresco, which represents the positive values discussed during the workshops.

Action for TRANSforming the schools

Implemented by the Association “Spektra”, with an aim to contribute to the fight against peer violence towards trans gender youth. Within this sub-grant was established cooperation with key stakeholders: Ministry of Education, Institute for Education and UNICEF. Also, a Memorandum of Cooperation with secondary school "Mirko Vešović" was signed, and a plan of educational activities in that school is in making. The research "Responding to Violence: Research on Discrimination against Transgender and Gender-Variating Students in Secondary Schools in Montenegro" was conducted and presented, together with the "Guidelines for Creating a Safe School Environment for Gender Diversity". In cooperation with the Pedagogical Center, training for capacity building of transgender and gender-diverse activists for conducting education were organised. This sub-grant helped raise awareness on prevention and protection mechanisms against peer violence against transgender and gender-diverse students by creating and implementing an online campaign "To ring the violence".

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