Partnerships and empowerment to fight violence in schools

Plan is helping children in Mali to speak out against violence

Therefore, Plan is developing a global partnership with Child Helpline International (CHI) to enlist their help to tackle the challenge of violence in schools. CHI works in 160 countries and the data they receive from millions of calls each year are a vital resource to inform Plan’s campaign work.

In return, Plan will use its expertise to work at national and international level to create more helplines for children, such as its recent work in Kenya.

Children speak out against violence in schools

Plan is galvanising children in West Africa through workshops that teach them the skills to demand an end to school violence. It is hoped that current pilot projects will be scaled up soon so that over 200 young people will be equipped to advocate for themselves.

At a workshop in Benin, children talked about various issues and created action plans to stop violence in schools. One student, Zita, commented: “I am very happy with this training because it gives us a lot to fight against cases of violence that are common in our communities.”

“During the 3 days, I learned the rights and duties of children, some tools to fight against violence," said Thalès.

In Mali, in celebration of the International Day of Radio and Television in favour of children, local children from Plan-supported child rights groups came together to air their views on violence in schools as part of Plan Mali’s Learn Without Fear campaign. The children are part of Kids’ Waves, a Plan initiative supported by Nokia which broadcasts popular and educational radio programmes across West Africa.

To find out more about the projects and work going on in West Africa, visit the West Africa blog.