Virtues for Holistic Child Development in Tanzania

BRIGHT CLUB QUARTERLY REPORT

Bright Jamii Initiative (BJI) has established Bright Club programs in several primary schools in Tanzania. This quarter’s educational objectives include the topics of Violence Against Children (VAC) and Children’s Rights and Responsibilities.

The lessons are designed to engage students using the language of virtues to acknowledge their efforts and call on needed virtues. This encourages participation and builds leadership in club activities. The program utilizes educational games, students’ art work, puzzles, comic books, and other materials as teaching aids to help facilitate Bright Club sessions.

Violence Against Children

Using edutainment and engaging assignments, students learned how to identify violations against them. On completion of these assignments, they were asked to document what they learned, share their feelings about violence directed at children, and describe the virtues they used to guide them in responding to VAC alongside their peers.

Learning about the signs of violence against children and VAC reporting led to successful changes in schools. Bright Club members were able to speak about the instances of violence they experienced from their friends and neighbors. They understood the effects of VAC. Members also held successful Inquisitive Ares Performances. They read poems and acted out a drama about VAC and virtues to ensure that these lessons reached students who were not club members.

Child Rights and Responsibilities

Bright Club members first started learning about the rights and responsibilities of children in June. Facilitators defined both words so that students could identify and advocate for their rights and identify and prioritize their responsibilities. To introduce students to the rights and responsibilities of children, facilitators utilized the game tic-tac-toe. Before they could play, students on one team had to state a right and the other team had to respond with a corresponding responsibility. For example, one has the right to go to school, but they have the responsibility to study. The game then encouraged them to identify key virtues that accompany rights and responsibilities before playing.

Additional Achievements and Student Stories

Over the past three months, facilitators also observed students using virtues in the classroom, and through homework submissions, they learned how students teach these virtues to their peers. Facilitators saw Bright Club members practicing the virtue of cooperation by helping each other complete and understand club activities and collaborating on group projects. They employed the virtue of cleanliness by cleaning the class before starting each session. Finally, they practiced responsibility by finishing Bright Club homework and submitting it on time during the following session.

Bright Club members now use virtues in their daily interactions in their communities as well. During a week-long holiday break, facilitators encouraged students to practice virtues daily and share what they learned with their friends and family. The following stories were written about that experience:

Swaumu’s Story:“I saw many virtues including unity. One day, I returned home from school to find my friends arguing over a game. I told them that I had been taught unity at school in Bright Club. Unity is to love each other and cooperate so that you can be united and love to study and play games without arguing. So, with unity we played the game. I felt happy because they heard me, and they did not argue again. They promised they would not quarrel again. From that day, they have not argued with me and I have learned unity. Collaborate and love each other.”

Nahya’s Story: “I told my peers that I had joined a club, and I had learned the following things: caring for yourself and caring for others; we need to have sensibility; supporting people with special needs; being respectful of young and old; do not be rude; be polite; help people who need help; and reporting to a teacher at school when I see my classmate being abused. My peers thought that I was lying to them, but I told them again. Then, they really wanted to join the Bright Club, but they went to a different school.”

Another Primary Student’s Story: “I told my peers that I was a club leader. My peers asked me if they were allowed to join and I told them, ‘Yes, you are allowed to join us but you are required to come each session and a good reputation so that many will follow your example.’ Then they asked me if I had joined to be paid, and I told them ‘No we are not being paid, but to join you will have good manners and you have to show that you do not harass others.’ Finally, all three of my friends understood. I told them to be loving and to be disciplined also to be respectful and to care for each other and not to stigmatize them and now my friends are in the Bright club too, trying to show obedience and discipline. They are also respectful.”

Thank you for your ongoing support for the children of Tanzania. Your gifts provide hope and a safe way forward for these children and their families.

Message from our children: END VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN – END CORPORAL PUNISHMENT