Violence Free Waitakere Project Reports

Violence Free Begins With Me Programme
Violence Free Begins with Me is a programme designed for intermediate aged school children, facilitating development of transferable skills and attitudes to assist in changing their relationship to violence in their worlds.   This teacher-led programme is ideally conducted over the first 12 weeks of Term One, to establish a cultural platform for pupils and classes in approaching the challenges of violence within its community.   The course is experiential, involves increasing understanding of the causes, effects and alternatives to violence by exploring communication, self esteem, emotions, safety planning and anger management as well as relationship skills such as empathy, responding to bullying and conflict resolution.   Currently completing its pilot stage, this programme demonstrates considerable promise in strengthening a school’s approach to violence. Teachers are trained in necessary skills for delivery of the material and supported by regular meetings with project staff to mutually reflect on the process, prepare for future classes and address issues which emerge in the process of the programme, such as responding to increased disclosures.
VFBWM_Final_Report___Eval_30_6_07.pdf   (Size: 4264k)   [Download]

Report of the second year at Bruce McLaren Intermediate
Although not a formal evaluation, this is a summary of the responses of the school pupils and staff to the application of the programme for the whole school
FINAL_Report_July08.pdf   (Size: 516k)   [Download]

Student Letters 2008
These are a selection of letters students wrote to Violence Free Waitakere, but also to "Jay" the man who had been in prison some years ago, and who had gifted his story to include in the programme. Jim came and spoke to the assembly and two syndicates in May. Also included in this section are examples of some expanded thinking exercises about violence and its prevention.
Appendix_7_letters.pdf   (Size: 8626k)   [Download]