The Positive Parenting Project was started in 2018 with the aim of reducing violence against children both in school and at home.
The Positive Parenting Project was developed in response to research on violence against children in Afghanistan, and the clear connection between violence in childhood and later mental health issues. External research, as well as our own, indicated that many children were experiencing violence both in the classroom and within their families. When children misbehaved, many teachers and parents were unsure of how to respond, and often used violence to address the issues they encountered. During our previous Community Mental Health Project, many parents requested help on rearing and disciplining their children. Many parents themselves experience violence in their childhood and don’t want to continue that practice, but have limited access to alternative resources and education on non-violent parenting skills. Our Positive Parenting Project helps to meet this need.
By engaging with parents, teachers, and community leaders to provide training and raise awareness of non-violent teaching and parenting techniques, we hope to not only reduce – and eventually eliminate – violence against children, but also prevent mental health issues that can result from experiencing violence in childhood.
In addition to the trainings, we also refer parents and children to counselling or other support services when necessary, continue research on non-violent parenting and teaching methods, publish materials to help raise awareness about non-violent parenting and teaching, advocate for policy changes to support non-violent parenting and teaching skills, and help communities continue to practice what they have learned through follow up meetings and support groups.