Osnovna škola Bartola KašićaVinkovciErasmus+ projektYoung citizens of Europe – our future

HANDS ARE NOT FOR HITTING

June 2015

Violence has been a serious problem and lots of children have been subject to repeated violence at home or at school, where bullying is the biggest problem.

We joined the Purple Hands project, the aim of which is to reduce violence and abuse. The Red Heart in the palm of the hand serves to represent when you hurt yourself or another person, or someone hurts you with words or by actions, it hurts deep inside, it hurts your heart, it hurts your spirit.The open hand extended in front of you means STOP. The Purple Hand/Red Heart means stop and think before you say or do anything hurtful to yourself or others.

Every day students take a pledge:

“I WLL NOT USE MY HANDS OR MY WORDS FOR HURTING MYSELF OR OTHERS”.

Taking the Pledge is taking an oath which is done with an open raised hand, just as in a court of law. When you take the Pledge, take it to heart; mean it with your heart. The pledge is a reminder of our personal commitment to stop and think before you say or do anything hurtful.We must keep in mind that everyone has the right to be safe no matter where they are or who they are with.

Students of Osnovna škola Bartola Kašića staged a play “Hands are not for hitting”and performed it at Vinkovci Health Fair, which took place in April, and on our school’s Open Doors Day (Erasmus+ Day)in June.

The play teaches children how to solve problems without violence and we hope that they will become adults who will not be violent.

A boy has problems with a bully and is afraid to go to school, but some of his friends tell him that he should talk with the classmistress. She talks to the bully and solves the problem. He is a boy who needs friends, but is violent because he sees such behaviour at home.

Hands are not for hitting. We can use our hands to shake hands, hug someone, draw, write, paint, play ball ....

Croatian famous psychotherapist and scientist Vladimir Gruden also came to see the play.

Open doors Day

The play helped the children to learn how to deal with bullies and how to make friends.

Every person can make a difference in stopping abuse and

violence by taking a pledge

- not to use violence (verbal or physical) to control others

- not to tolerate any form of abuse from others

(ask for help)

- to develop healthy relationships based on

respect and equality