By Solomon Gumah
Tamale, March 03, GNA – A project tailored to incorporate the use of animations and participatory videos by leveraging on the concept of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) has been launched in Tamale.
The project dubbed: “Reducing Bullying Behaviour and Victimization Among Young People”, seeks to educate them on self-awareness, self-management and responsible decision-making, relationship skills and social awareness to enable young people effectively deal with issues of bullying.
The project is being implemented by Inspire to Act, an NGO, and supported by Being – an International Mental Health Initiative, hosted by Grand Challenges Canada and funded in part by Foundation Botnar, UK’s Department of Health and Social Care, using UK Aid through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Science for Africa Foundation, Orygen, and United for Global Mental Health and the Government of Canada.
It will be implemented in 10 Junior High Schools and 10 Senior High Schools in four Districts in the Northern Region including Tamale, Yendi, Gushegu and Kpandai.
Alhaji Abdul-Rashid Imoro, Executive Director of Inspire to Act, during the launch, said the project sought to provide a more comprehensive framework for addressing issues of bullying in schools, adding that it would recruit and form Anti-Bullying Clubs targeting 1,800 young people aged between 10 – 24.
He mentioned that the project would train 80 teachers and 80 student peer educators, who would facilitate the SEL lessons.
Alhaji Imoro added that it would involve 1,440 parents and caregivers to observe young people’s behaviour at home and provide feedback on the impact of the project on young people’s attitudes towards bullying.
He emphasised that the inclusion of peer educators was a strategic move to foster open discussions and create a supportive community amongst students.
Alhaji Imoro rallied the support of various stakeholders in the implementing districts to ensure the project was successful.
Professor Issah Mohammed, Senior Lecturer at the University for Development Studies, commended Inspire to Act and partners for the project, saying the issues of bullying cases being recorded amongst students required concerted efforts to address.
He said the project was a strategic approach to significantly reduce bullying behaviour and victimization and help promote a safer and conducive environment for effective teaching and learning.
GNA