Changing the Culture of Violence in Fiji

The facilitators have been busy over the past three months following up with visits to more than 25 families and talking to school teachers about class room control issues.

People have been calling for advice on issues with children being absent from school, with parents only finding out their children have not been at school when attending teacher/parent days. The Virtues Project facilitators have explained the need for the parents to ask their children about this problem and listen to what the child has to say. Most children are not going to school after leaving home as if they are going to school because they are having problems with some subjects or with teachers or with bullying from other students, even teachers. One example was of a child who could not cope with maths so he did not go to school after leaving home as if he was going to school. When his parents talked to him about this after they learned of the matter they were able to talk to the teacher and get a coach to help the child understand the subject and cope with the class. Using the art of companioning from the Virtues Project strategies solved the problem and is being used by other parents when it is explained to them what they need to do when they find out their child is having problems.

Another issue that has arisen is that the police have been going to the schools and telling the children about their ‘rights’ and focusing on them reporting when they are hit or beaten by parents or teachers. The outcome is that the teachers have no control over the class as the children now consider their ‘rights’ to do what they like. No one is explaining ‘responsibilities’, and teachers do not know how to deal with the children so ‘empowered’.

Having received these reports from the teachers the Virtues facilitators will approach the police and give them some guidance about how to present the ‘rights of the child’ especially when they are beaten and abused as well as their responsibilities to obey authority when it is correctly presented such as setting clear boundaries and consequences.

In addition to the above activities the facilitators have been working with the children in their neighbourhoods during school holidays giving them activities that relate to using their virtues and understanding how to use them.

The demand for more information and training with The Virtues Project includes requests for the puppets so they will be getting out of their storage case and joining in the fun.