A forum on the formation of a safe educational space in local communities was held in Chernihiv

On October 6, Chernihiv hosted an educational forum “Forming a Safe Space in the Educational Environment of Local Communities” for social workers, practical psychologists, and school teachers of the Chernihiv region.

The speakers of the event were

Ulyana Dolyniak

, director and trainer of the Center for Trauma Pedagogy, therapist, crisis interventionist, specialist in working with family and institutional forms of child care with 18 years of experience;

Olena Oleksienko

, trainer, practical psychologist with many years of experience working with victims of violence, and

Kateryna Dankova

, trainer and school mediator.

The participants had the opportunity to get acquainted with the programs for the prevention of sexting and grooming, domestic violence and how to work with children who have suffered from violence, learn about methods of non-violent communication and alternative ways of resolving conflicts.

So, the trainer

Ulyana Dolyniak

covered the issue of seduction through social networks, why and which teenagers become targets for online attackers, what is the typical behavior of seducers, what behavior of a child may indicate that he is in danger, and how to behave as specialists/parents to protect the child from risks. According to her, every fifth child in Ukraine is exposed to sexual violence in various forms. The participants analyzed sexting/grooming situations at school and discussed possible ways to respond to them.

Kateryna Dankova

, a representative of the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights, opened the topic of implementing restorative practices in the educational environment, namely processes aimed at resolving controversial and problematic issues through a collaborative approach and based on the principles of a restorative approach: inclusion and consideration of the interests of all stakeholders, voluntariness and self-determination of participants, understanding, respect and responsibility.

The trainer paid special attention to the practice of the “Circle” technique, which helps to involve all stakeholders in solving the problem and ensures their active participation in discussing the situation and making decisions.

Practical psychologist

Olena Oleksienko

provided participants with information about the signs that allow you to recognize that a child has suffered from domestic violence and how to work with children who have suffered from violence. At the end of the event, Lyudmila Tretynnikova, a methodologist at the Educational and Methodological Center of Psychological Service in the Education System of Chernihiv Oblast, emphasized the importance of improving the level of knowledge and skills of social educators and practical psychologists and conducting similar educational events for them.

The event was organized by the Chernihiv Public Committee for the Protection of Human Rights as part of the implementation of the project “Enhancing Security – Building Community” with the support of the US Embassy in Ukraine.