Students reach beyond hurt

Pelican Falls First Nations High School had two days of peer facilitation training April 15-16 with the Beyond the Hurt program.
The program is one of several Canadian Red Cross youth programs delivered under its RespectED: Violence and Abuse Prevention services. This program works with youth organizations, schools, sports and community groups to assist in building community capacity to respond to bullying and harassment through a comprehensive prevention-planning model. The aim is to break the cycle of abuse, neglect, harassment and interpersonal violence through prevention education.
Seven Pelican Falls students learned practical skills in a collaborative and interactive environment that encourages proactive approaches. The training was delivered by a certified RespectEd staff member, Nestor Shartun.
In one exercise, the group was asked to share their views of what an ideal man and woman looks like. First, Elijah Martin, a student participant, on behalf of his group, had to draw their ideal version without the other group seeing it. Then he had to draw another version from the other group’s input. It was surprising to both groups how it was almost identical. This particular exercise was to show students that nobody is perfect and we all have different views and that we can still help each other.
It was a hands-on experience and learning was done in group exercises. The students were engaged for the entire time; they did case studies and group discussions. They also learned how to deal with cyber bullying. They learned the importance of saving and documenting emails or posts, which will help if they are being bullied on-line.
The newly certified facilitators in the end had to devise a four-month implementation plan for bullying by engaging both teachers and students, starting in September when they return to school, using the skills they learned.
Glen Whiskeychan, Pelican Falls social counsellor, said the workshop was “well-presented” and “very informative” and that it will help the students to prevent bullying.