Gender-based violence prevention and response: Mentors in Violence Prevention
Mentors in Violence Prevention is a peer education program. Students work together to challenge the cultural norms and attitudes that contribute to:
- gender-based violence
- bullying
- other forms of abuse
Delivering the Mentors in Violence Prevention programme
Mentors in Violence Prevention runs through the school year. It can be introduced either:
- in classes like Personal and Social Education (PSE)
- as part of extracurricular activities
Mentors in violence prevention resources
Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) resources include:
- information on establishing MVP in education settings
- resources on engaging boys and men
- MVP mentor training (2 days can be flexible)
- MVP practitioner training (2 days for new schools and 1 day for capacity building)
Mentors in violence prevention leads
Participating schools should have a lead who is responsible for:
- co-ordinating the staff team and training
- attending termly network meetings at a council level
- linking with the local authority co-ordinator
- reporting on impact data and training needs
Time for this role is at the discretion of the school leadership team.
Mentors in violence prevention staff team
School staff can get 2 days of training to become Mentors in Violence Prevention practitioners. The training focuses on building capacity for schools to lead the program effectively.
Senior student mentors
Senior students can lead the program as Mentors in Violence Prevention mentors. The MVP staff team support mentor training. Time for supporting mentors is at the discretion of school management.
How Mentors in Violence Prevention connects to other programmes
Mentors in Violence Prevention enhances the Equally Safe at School initiative. It empowers senior students as leaders, by helping them raise awareness with younger peers. It works within the broader framework of Equally Safe at School by contributing to the whole-school approach to gender-based violence.
Mentors can use the skills and insights from their training in Equally Safe at School staff-student action groups.
