This year, Children of Kibera has jump started a campaign to end corporal punishment in schools and to draw attention to child abuse that occurs in the home and the school. Our campaign, "End Violence Against Children! Protect Our Children From Violence in Schools and the Home," began with our teacher trainings at Red Rose. 
The purpose of the trainings was to introduce the psychological effects of corporal punishment on children and offer the teachers practical alternative methods of classroom discipline and management. Repeatedly in the weekend seminar, teachers brought up the fact that many students suffer from abuse in the home and often learn to respond to aversive disciplinary techniques. Facilitators Joscelyn Truitt and Jackie Espana respectfully offered a new perspective on classroom discipline and described some long and short term effects of corporal punishment. Abuse and violence greatly affect students’ performance in school, emotional health, and chances of pursuing higher education. The Children of Kibera Foundation operates on the theory that providing chances to access quality education offers a road out of life-long poverty and oppression. 
The two day seminar, which will be followed up in a couple weeks, began with a discussion. Teachers offered their issues with discipline in the classroom, so facilitators could best address their concerns. The basis of the facilitator's teachings on alternative forms of discipline was respecting the child and using positive reinforcement. Monitoring the classroom, focusing students in before teaching, being discreet when counseling a child who may want attention, using positive humanistic "I" messages, are all examples of practical skills the teachers learned. Teachers were provided a thick packet of research, citing findings of the short term results, but long term negative effects of corporal punishment, and the long-term benefits of positive reinforcement on a child's learning, self confidence, and communication skills. 
Teachers were left with the opportunity to make the teachings their own and reflect on what they had learned. We are hopeful that teachers will adapt the lessons to their classrooms and be an example for the rest of Kibera!
The purpose of the trainings was to introduce the psychological effects of corporal punishment on children and offer the teachers practical alternative methods of classroom discipline and management. Repeatedly in the weekend seminar, teachers brought up the fact that many students suffer from abuse in the home and often learn to respond to aversive disciplinary techniques. Facilitators Joscelyn Truitt and Jackie Espana respectfully offered a new perspective on classroom discipline and described some long and short term effects of corporal punishment. Abuse and violence greatly affect students’ performance in school, emotional health, and chances of pursuing higher education. The Children of Kibera Foundation operates on the theory that providing chances to access quality education offers a road out of life-long poverty and oppression. The two day seminar, which will be followed up in a couple weeks, began with a discussion. Teachers offered their issues with discipline in the classroom, so facilitators could best address their concerns. The basis of the facilitator's teachings on alternative forms of discipline was respecting the child and using positive reinforcement. Monitoring the classroom, focusing students in before teaching, being discreet when counseling a child who may want attention, using positive humanistic "I" messages, are all examples of practical skills the teachers learned. Teachers were provided a thick packet of research, citing findings of the short term results, but long term negative effects of corporal punishment, and the long-term benefits of positive reinforcement on a child's learning, self confidence, and communication skills. Teachers were left with the opportunity to make the teachings their own and reflect on what they had learned. We are hopeful that teachers will adapt the lessons to their classrooms and be an example for the rest of Kibera!Next to follow is our "End Violence Against Children" poster contest! Local Kiberan primary school students, secondary school students, and administrators will have a chance to change Kibera through their anti-violence campaign posters. The Children of Kibera Foundation will feature the winners of the contest and present their prizes at the annual creative arts festival, appropriately themed "End Violence Against Children!" The creative arts festival, to take place in October 2010, will include participants from the same local Kiberan schools to perform acts relating to the theme. Look out for posters in mid July!
Day 2 
Older students were reminded what it felt like to start school, and encourages to relate to their younger peers, who Form 1's report are not always treated with respect from their elders. The scholars found this experience to be very valuable and shared in the group what they learned from their partners. They spoke about learning to deal with students who may come from wealthy families and make them feel inferior by keeping in mind the place they came from and the work they have accomplished even to get to school. 
Facilitators held a review of self awareness, peer pressure, and decision making lessons. Students learned practical skills on how to deliver assertive messages, verses passive or aggressive ones, through skits they performed for each other.
The rest of Wednesday was all fun and games as the scholars competed in a ring toss and three legged race before playing a friendly game of football. Winners were given prizes and everyone was handed out a chapter of 28 Stories of AIDS in Africa by Stephanie Nolan for homework. They were given the chapters of this inspirational book of personal stories to prepare for their lecture on HIV the following day. Students were meant to come back with questions, and an open mind to talk about HIV/AIDS in their community.
