"School without Violence" programme in Montenegro
Violence among children
Elementary school age has always been connected with different types of violence – from punching and pushing to threatening, gossiping or ridiculing, and complete exclusion of certain girls and boys from a group. In the world brimming with violence today, violence among school children has unfortunately become a trend. And although everybody knows that it is happening, this serious social problem often remains ignored in schools. Too often, when violence and bullying occurs, the majority simply watches in silence while some cheer it on and support it.
Both girls and boys are equally prone to violent behavior. The difference is mostly in the type of violence executed: boys express physical violence more, while girls are more into psychological type of violence, such as gossiping or excluding their classmates from the group.
Long-term bullying
The first systematic researches of violence in school were done in 1970s. Already in 1983 Norway began a national campaign against violence in schools. It was the first time ever that a state began such an action in all schools led by the Ministry of Education. The reason, unfortunately, was a few cases of suicide among primary school children who had been exposed to long-term bullying in school.
Since then, bullying has become an issue of research in many European countries and also in the US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Parallel to research, experts began to develop different programmes for the prevention of violence in schools, involving not only schools themselves, teachers and children but also parents, media and the entire community.
“School without Violence – Towards Safe and Enabling Environment” programme in Montenegro
Research conducted in two pilot schools in Montenegro showed that violence is widespread in schools. More than half pupils of both schools have experience with peer violence i.e. they have been exposed to situation to experience violence. Results showed that the most frequent forms of violence are emotional, social isolation and than physical violence.
Most children belong to both groups, group that behaves violent and group of victims of violence. This means that there is one complicated circle of mutual violence.
Based on different programmes aimed at prevention of violence and bullying conducted in Europe and the world, UNICEF in Montenegro, together with Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Montenegro began in 2006 with implementation of the “School without Violence – Towards Safe and Enabling Environment” programme. The main objective of this programme, intended for children, school teachers, parents and the local community, is to decrease and prevent violence among school children in Montenegro. It teaches children and adults different techniques on how to manage conflict in nonviolent way and ways to behave when violence happens. Its objective is to promote peace, friendship and tolerance in schools.
Project partners, Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Montenegro and UNICEF expect involvement of new schools in the project, i.e. applying of schools to join the project on the bases of their own decision.
UNICEF nominated famous artist Antonije Pusic-Rambo Amadeus for UNICEF National Ambassador to Montenegro who will through his activities support implementation of the project in as many number of schools in Montenegro.
You Can Join In
This project in Montenegro has been implemented through UNICEF assistance, but its further financing will depend solely on donations from individual donors, families and companies. Fund raising campaign for project “School without Violence- Towards the Safe and Enabling Environment”” has started in May 2006.
UNICEF nominated famous artist Mr. Antonije Pusic (Rambo Amadeus) for UNICEF National Ambassador to Montenegro who will through his activities support implementation of the project in as many number of schools in Montenegro.
Crnogorska Komercijalna Bank is one of the first donors in Montenegro that adopted primary school “Stampar Makarije” from Podgorica. This means that it provided funds for implementation of the “School Without Violence” programme in a selected school which has applied for participation in the programme. For the full implementation of the programme in one school, it is necessary to provide around 3,300 Euro. This money helps the programme become an integral part of the school activities.
Individuals and companies, small and large, can give their support to the programme by:
- Adopting a school
- Donating directly to UNICEF bank account CKB 510-0-40/2315011-978-10090
- Sending a blank SMS to 4844 (available for users of 067 GSM network)
- Calling number 9844 to fixed telephony
By sending an SMS or calling, you'll be charged 50 cents
Click here to see the activities of Rambo Amadeus for “School Without Violence” project
YOU CAN JOIN IN
Your donation will enable us to involve greater number of schools in this project.
“It’s enough to do little to help a lot. I invite my friends, my peers, emancipated family people whose business is going well to do something for generations that are left behind us.”
Rambo Amadeus, UNICEF National Ambassador to Montenegro
