Shifting norms around violence in schools: A guide for trainers and facilitators working with children and young people

Who is the Guide for?

This Guide is written for adults, including trainers, facilitators, teachers or school staff, who will be working with children and young people in schools and alternative education centres.

What is the purpose of the Guide?

With the help of this Guide, you will take children and young people on a journey to explore social and gender norms around violence against children in their school and community, and engage them in activities to build on positive norms to address harmful norms related to violence against children.

What age groups of children and young people is the Guide intended for?

All activities in the guide are applicable for children and young people aged 13 to 18.

What size of a group should you bring together?

Ideally, groups of children should be kept around 15. The maximum recommended size is 25, depending on COVID-19 safety requirements.

Who should be part of your team?

In order to take children and young people through a meaningful process, it is important to first assemble a team of supportive adults.

• Facilitators can plan to work in a team of two, sharing roles as lead Facilitator and lead Note-taker.
• Connect with the Principal, other teachers and school staff to inform them of the project, and gain their support in advance.
• Secure the support of a counsellor, psychologist, or others who can provide support to children and young people, should it be required, throughout the process.
• Be clear on your protection and safeguarding contact points (see Appendix 2).

What is the structure of the Guide?

This Guide is divided into four learning Modules. Each Module has a Tip Sheet that explains key concepts and ideas around social norms. We recommend that you spend some time familiarizing yourself with these concepts as well as teaching these to the children and young people in your group. The Activities that follow each Tip Sheet will engage young people in art and play-based work. By following the Guide, you will lead children and young people through a process of identifying social and gender norms around violence against children in their school and community. You will explore together what it means to feel safe, and create activities or projects that they can implement to address a norm they want to work towards shifting.

To walk children and young people through the Guide, you will need to spend:

• 7.5-10 hours teaching core content provided in 5 Tip Sheets. These include core concepts and reflective activities and are interspersed throughout the Guide.
• 15.5 hours conducting the Activities with Children and young people, this includes 12 activities.
• Additional time supporting young people to implement their Safe School Plan strategies or projects.