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Omwisiki
Omwisiki is an intervention by Twogere that seeks to prevent violence against children in schools and communities by raising awareness and building the capacity of schools and communities to take lead and ownership of violence prevention efforts.
What we need to know
A child’s mental health state determines how they learn and interact with others.
Violence against children can be a cause and effect of mental health – there is a need to build healthy relationships with children to support them in maintaining a positive mental state.
We need to be deliberate about our children’s mental well-being just like we mind their physical health.
Call to Action
Parents
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Parents and adults need to educate themselves about mental health and devise means of supporting themselves and their children.
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Build good relationships with children and create time to talk to them and check on how they are feeling.
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Talk to children about school – talk to them about their day at school, what they are learning to establish how they feel about school.
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Create time for activities that allow you to bond as a family e.g., reading books together, praying together, games and sports, etc.
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If you recognize that a child is showing signs of severe mental health problems e.g., they frequently speak about how useless they are, how they wish they could die, if they want to be alone all the time, are showing complete loss of interest in all the things that are happening around them, etc. visit a counsellor or specialized medical worker to support the child.
Schools
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Create an environment that promotes positive mental health. For example,
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develop a policy on zero tolerance to violence,
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build friendly relationships between teachers and learners,
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teach children about mental health,
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have ongoing open conversations on mental health problems,
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develop a policy or a structure to support children who may be having mental health difficulties
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Consider training teachers, school nurse in mental health and how to support children experiencing mental health problems.
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Encourage adults, especially teachers, caregivers, and parents, to pay attention to their own mental health. This will strengthen their ability to support children.
Join us
My name is Alexa Young
Violence against children is a societal issue that requires collective action. With your support, Omwisiki can expand its reach and impact, helping more children live free from violence.
Contact us today to learn more about how you can support at omwisiki@twogereug.org
