Expectations of the society, family and school presented an obstacle for a 10 year old boy for free choice of games, toys, colours of cloths, interests, hobbies and behaviour. The children have already adopted gender stereotypes that certain games, toys, behaviour or colours are typically male or typically female which narrowed their freedom to choose, and some of them were less happy about it.

Through workshops and games, the children have learned that there are no male and female toys, games, colours or behaviour. A boy can cry and wear a pink T-shirt. A girl can play football or drive a moto-races. Their self-esteem grew every day, they became more free to express their opinion without fear that somebody may laugh. Boys and girls together are playing more, socialising, help each other and discuss various topics.

When an 18-year-old student joined the project of peer violence in intimate relationships, he did not know that he himself was one of the perpetrators. The training he attended opened his eyes and he realized that this was a serious social problem, and that something had to be done. Through contacts and conversations with his peers, he developed into an even stronger and more responsible person who is ready to listen or react to violence. All project participants have begun to change things that could encourage violence even unconsciously, and their relationships have become more honest and more serious.

A 22 years old volunteer has been working as an assistant to professional trainers and lecturers for the past two years in workshops on gender-based violence. This experience is rewarding for her and makes her happy. By assisting in workshops, she noticed that children at the beginning always hesitate to say something or ask any questions. As the workshops on the prevention of gender-based violence include games, the children relax quickly, and with lot of joy and motivation participate in the conversation, the presentation in a small and large groups. After the workshops, some schools organised competitions of mixed volleyball and football teams, where pupils played as teams and had fun together, and fought together against gender-based violence. In some schools, presentations have been created for competitions on this topic, and it is important to emphasise that children also understand the importance of combating gender-based violence.

14-year-old girl was not aware to what extent a verbal violence exists around us and how much prejudices are present in her environment, until she has started to attend the workshops. Children, parents and teachers, all of them had a chance to exchange their opinion, to equally participate in activities. She can see now that a lot of things have changed for the better in her community, they all work together, however many things still can improve: “I wish that we all fight against prejudices and that we celebrate in the same way the birth of a male and female child”.

I use knowledge and experience in psychology and psychotherapy in working with children in order to empower their capacities and abilities. I love to play games with children, and through the game I help them to process their emotions. My life’s dream is that I never lose contact with a child in myself that helps me understand my own children and the children I work with. I see satisfaction in this work in the smile of children when they begin to use their capacities, when they are adequately dealing with everyday challenges. Through workshops on the prevention of gender-based violence, I managed to transfer knowledge to the children about the existence of problem of violence and frequent sources of discrimination in our society. New knowledge helps them to recognise and respond to violence more easily, and they can also transfer their experiences to other students.

Alternative, Kakanj

A pedagogue with 40 years of work experience participates in activities dealing with preventive activities to decrease gender-based violence. She likes to be with children and young people, and helps them overcome problems and grow up in successful people. The hardest thing is that she does not have the opportunity to help all the children to have a healthy and carefree childhood without violence. Current activities have managed to create conditions for respecting and improving human rights, especially children’s rights, and by working with children, teachers and parents the project was able to contribute to reducing gender-based violence. She is convinced that well-created workshops and proper approach can achieve a lot to reduce violence among children, but also that this prevention must be continuously implemented.