Schools in Jordan hail positive impact of Generations For Peace programmes

So far, over two hundred students and twenty teachers in four schools in Al Russaiyfeh and Al-Qwasmi, have been trained on non-violent conflict transformation skills, aiming to reduce violence in the classroom and improve educational performance through sport-and art-based activities.

Statistics in Jordan

• A UNICEF 2007 Research Study on “Violence Against Children in Jordan” found that 50% of children are physically abused by school teachers, administrators, and family members
• Approximately one third are physically abused by other adults and children in their neighbourhood
• 44.8% of school students in grades 4 to 9 were subjected to verbal violence and 40.3% of them to physical violence

The Generations For Peace Jordan Schools Programme has had a remarkably positive impact over the last twelve months, harnessing the power of sport and using carefully-designed and carefully-facilitated sport-based games as a vehicle for life skills, education and as a space for transforming relationships and ultimately, conflict.

Jumana Awwad Houri Al Aqili, a participating teacher at Princess Taghreed Secondary School For Girls in Al-Qwasmi said: “I am not just here to teach an educational subject. Thanks to Generations For Peace and this programme, I found out that I have creativity that I didn’t know existed and I am delighted to see so many happy and smiling young students.”

2015
Teachers, students and parents have all observed the positive influence of the programme, which has resulted in reduced violence between students, improved educational performance and helped form stronger relationships between teachers and their students. After an evaluation in August 2014, a decision was taken with the MoE to introduce the Violence in Schools Programme to more students and replicate the programme in eight schools in 2014/2015.

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[This article may have been edited by the Operating Team]