School directors from the Odesa region learned how to create a safe environment in educational institutions

On December 5, the Child Dignity Centre of the Ukrainian Catholic University held a training session on violence prevention for school principals, directors, and consultants of centers for the professional development of teaching staff.

The training for the directors, titled “Synergy of Management: Child Safety in the Educational Environment,” was led by Valentyna Gavryshko, Head of Projects and Programs at the Child Dignity Centre. She shared the results of the research "School Safe for Children" (2024), conducted by the Child Dignity Centre in collaboration with the Research Agency Fama, with the support of the Education Department of Lviv. The study highlighted that the most important factor of safety for students is a friendly attitude from teachers and classmates, the absence of bullying, and having friends in school.

The education leaders were also introduced to how to create a safe space, what to pay attention to during employee hiring, and the "safeguarding" system – clear rules of interaction between staff and children, a designated person responsible for safety, and the institution's response protocol in case of a violence incident.

Valentyna Gavryshko presented the course on violence prevention for the educational environment, "Safeguarding. Child Safety in Educational Settings," which explains how to create a safe space, how to identify a potential abuser, and how to help a child who has been subjected to violence.

Additionally, she introduced the methodological guide "Safety Briefings for Children in School" with interactive activities aimed at preventing violence for children aged 4 to 18. The four sessions familiarize children with the rules of personal safety, standing up for their boundaries, and how to act if they face the threat of violence.

We thank the Odesa Academy of Continuous Education for the collaboration. Together, we continue to work towards the safety of children.