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Guide on school violence created by world youth

Guide on school violence created by world youth

The manual tackles issues of violence in schools

June 2009: Plan Germany brought together children from Colombia, Germany, Ecuador, India, the Philippines, Tanzania and Uganda to create a manual packed with exercises and activities to deal with school violence.

The content was informed by additional children from all over the world via a social network group which was set up so children could discuss issues and comment on drafts of the guidebook.

Activities include walking around school grounds to figure out which areas might be less safe, understanding stereotypes and differences between boys and girls as they affect violence and working out how to help someone who has been hurt or bullied.

The activities have been tried and tested in schools around the world and the book includes snapshots of children’s views of school violence in their own country.

Find out more and download the manual.

Getting the full picture

Because a lot of violence against children in schools is hidden and unrecorded, Plan is making sure that research is undertaken to understand the nature of the problem and just how many children are affected. Plan in Ghana and Ethiopia has undertaken surveys on the issues with some revealing results:

  • In Ghana – 53% of sexual abuse takes place at school, compared with 47% at home
  • In Ethiopia – violence in schools appears to be widespread but reporting is only 17%.

Read the Ghana and Ethiopia reports.

Plan has several research projects in progress, providing a unique estimation of the scale of school violence. As reports are finalised, you’ll be able to find them all on this website.

Help end violence in schools

Everyone benefits from reducing violence in schools

Everyone can play their part in reducing school violence

Research shows corporal punishment can cause children to feel suicidal

Children have the right to be safe at school

90 countries legally permit corporal punishment in schools

No country is immune from violence in schools

Violence in schools happens everywhere, every day

Violence in schools has devastating long-term consequences

All violence in schools is preventable

In Zambia one-third of 13-15 year-olds have been raped

Children who suffer family violence are more likely to be bullies

When the school year started, my father refused to provide my school dues. Since I did not have textbooks, I was beaten in front of others and driven away from school for one week. I was very ashamed and thought of leaving school.

Girl, 10 years old, Cameroon