Empower 4,000 Adolescents in Violence Prevention

Like every year, at the end of 2015 we had our "A Deal for Ideal Interactions" campaign evaluation meeting. Close to 20 adolescents and adults, representing many volunteer organizations all over the country, were gathered in Montevideo to share their impression on the campaign’s results during 2015.

Through presentations and different group activities, there was an interesting feedback on what campaign processes were successful and which ones had room for improvement.

One of the key challenges of the campaign activities during 2015 was the amount of activities and organizations to coordinate. Over 200 schools, youth groups, and other organizations from 14 departments in Uruguay took part in creative interventions, led by adolescent promoters. Since more and more organizations are eager to take part every year in this campaign, there’s a clear challenge to coordinate all these activities across the country in an effective way.

After the summer holidays in January, there will be some additional campaign activities during February, while we start to plan the campaign’s 2016 edition.

During October, many activities were held in Uruguay to promote the campaign "A Deal for Ideal Interactions", which confronts violence by promoting children's rights and healthy interactions.

Through creative interventions, children and adolescents have been symbolically "vaccinating" adults against violence, who then commit to protect children and report violence.

As the campaign's main event, more than 500 teenagers, kids and adults gathered last week around the Legislative Palace to give a sign of good interactions to Uruguayan Senators and Deputies and to the whole community.

Representatives of various institutions came from different parts of the country to form a huge "hug" around this symbolic building, as a sign of the need to have better interactions towards children and adolescents, and take them into consideration while making laws.

During the activity, the Vice President of Uruguay gave a brief but significant speech. There was also the presence of different Senators, as well as representatives of different institutions and companies which support the campaign.

The building’s facade was decorated with colorful banners and campaign signs.

This activity was part of a new edition of the public advocacy campaign, "A Deal for Ideal Interactions", which confronts violence by promoting children's rights and healthy interactions.

Through the campaign, over 4,000 adolescents from 14 departments in Uruguay participate in workshops. They represent over 200 schools, youth groups, and other organizations. Through creative interventions led by adolescent promoters, over 70,000 adults commit to protect children's rights each year. Hundreds of thousands more are reached by the campaign's message on TV and radio commercials throughout the country.

Links:

• Article on website
• "Hug Event" Video