Two training sessions for Lets grow Up together program were held during this week. The program will be implemented by primary school teachers working with children. One training was held in Sarajevo, where the program has been successfully implemented since the 2022/2023 school year, while this year the project will be piloted in the Zenica-Doboj Canton.
Lets grow Up Together is a curriculum-based program aimed at promoting health and personal development of children from the 1st to the 4th grade of primary school. The program is based on a life-skills approach, focusing on strengthening children’s social and personal competencies.
Self-confident children who have a positive attitude toward themselves and their abilities, who have learned to resolve conflicts through negotiation, who can correctly assess and verbalize their feelings and needs, and who are able to resist negative peer pressure can face life’s challenges more strongly and confidently and consciously choose a healthy lifestyle.
The training for teachers who will implement the program in their schools was delivered by professional associates from Addiction Prevention Compentence Centre , Sanela Pekić and Kerima Delibašić. The training is mandatory for all program implementers. A total of 17 teachers successfully completed the training in Kakanj, while 19 completed it in Sarajevo.
The program trainer, Kerima Delibašić, reflected on her experience:
The training went very well and was an extremely positive experience for all of us. It is always a pleasure to work with a motivated group that genuinely wants to learn and improve in their work. I am confident that the program will bring equally positive benefits for children in the Zenica-Doboj Canton, and what makes us especially happy is the continuation of our cooperation, because we have recognized together a shared goal and direction.
During the training, participants, in addition to theoretical introduction to the program, practiced simulations of life-skills workshops to be able to work successfully with children, and they also received the working materials necessary for implementing program activities.
What participants say about the training and the program:
The training was a very pleasant and useful experience. Through practical examples and discussion, I gained new ideas on how to better support children in developing self-confidence, expressing emotions, and resolving conflicts. The program reminded me how crucial understanding, support, and good relationships are for children’s development. I plan to gladly use the acquired knowledge in everyday practice.
The training and the health promotion and child development program Lets grow Up together are very useful and educational. We received very important guidelines for further work. The workshops conducted within the project involve direct work with children and imply creating a safe and supportive environment. The workshops directly contribute to children’s safety and prevention, because a safe child is not only physically protected, but also equipped with internal tools to defend against risks. I am very satisfied with the Growing Up Together program, because through workshops with my students I will directly contribute to the development of empathy, emotional security, and skills that will become their real shield. A safe child is not one who fears the world, but one who has the skills to navigate it
During program implementation, teachers will receive continuous support from the professional team of Addiction Prevention Compentence Centre, which will conduct monitoring and evaluation in accordance with quality standards.
