Stopping the Violence

In the small, half-island nation of Timor-Leste, children regularly experience violence at school: in a 2006 study, it was found that “two-thirds of children reported teachers beating them with a stick and almost four out of every ten children reported teachers slapping them in the face” (Speak Nicely to Me, UNICEF and Plan International, 2006). In order to address this gross violation of children’s right to a safe education that respects their dignity, Ba Futuru began the Strengthening Peace in the Lives of Children: Stopping the Violence project – also known as Peace Schools. Since January 2011, Ba Futuru has trained 249 teachers and more than 1,200 students in Timor-Leste in child rights, child protection, positive (non-violent) discipline and positive behaviour reinforcement.

This year, Peace Schools is strengthening non-violent discipline and effective teaching practices in four Timorese high schools in the capital Dili and the remote town of Lospalos. We are training teachers in child protection and positive discipline, and participatory and effective teaching skills; and we are reaching students through theatre performances and publications about their rights and responsibilities, abuse and protection services. Together with these school communities, we are creating safer and healthier educational environments for young people in Timor-Leste.

From July to September, the Peace Schools project has achieved the following:

• various one-day training sessions for 25 Ba Futuru facilitators in participatory teaching methods and positive behaviour reinforcement
• focus group interviews with more than 50 students from the four target schools about their attitudes to schooling, experience of violence in the classroom, and their understanding of abuse, rights and responsibilities
• continuation of monthly meetings to support the development of teachers’ skills in positive (non-violent) discipline and effective teaching
• in-classroom mentoring of fifteen teachers in the four schools, including planning, observation and debrief sessions with each teacher. These sessions provided a valuable opportunity for Ba Futuru staff to observe the implementation of teachers’ new skills, and for teachers to receive individual feedback and support, many for the first time in their teaching careers.
• theatre performances and the distribution of posters and information booklets about abuse, where to get help, and children’s rights and responsibilities, reaching more than 1,500 students across the four target schools

The theatre performances featured Ba Futuru’s female peacebuilding superhero, Feto Fantastiku (Fantastic Woman) and a cast of students, who discussed their experiences of abuse and violence, and shared information on where victims can find assistance locally. This information was reinforced through the distribution of posters and pocket-sized information booklets containing definitions of abuse, and contact numbers for support services in the region of each school. Ninety percent (90%) of the surveyed students said they “liked” or “really liked” the performance, and more than half (59%) were able to name three or all of the four types of abuse discussed in the play, showing that it was an effective way of sharing important information to help young Timorese protect themselves from abuse and mistreatment.

Thanks to your generous donation, Ba Futuru’s work in this vital area continues.

To become a Member of Ba Futuru, or for more information about our work, contact bafuturu@bafuturu.org.