During this week-long national education initiative, various activities will demonstrate the positive role young people can have in making their schools and communities safer. With the support of several national premier youth-serving organizations, each day of the week will focus on a specific violence prevention strategy. These include promoting respect and tolerance, anger management,

The official campaign website, www.ViolencePreventionWeek.org, offers activities, information, and resources to support each day`s focus. There is also a free campaign brochure that also includes activity suggestions, as well as information and an exciting collection of innovative games, videos, activity books, curricula, and low-cost giveaways that promote the violence prevention strategies highlighted during the event. To order your copy of this free brochure, click here or call 800.999.6884.

In addition, the National SAVE Youth Advisory Board has compiled a number of suggested activities for NYVPW. Below you`ll find student-developed suggestions for each day of the week

Day 1: Promote Respect & Tolerance

• Perform a skit in conjunction with theatre or drama class/group on the importance of tolerance.
• Conduct a poetry contest with entries on nonviolence, peace, respect, etc.
• Visit feeder elementary and/or middle schools and perform skits or hold discussions/visits.

Day 2: Manager Your Anger, Don`t Let it Manage You!

• Conduct a play or skit showing how to de-escalate violent situations.
• Entertain students with a step show to “stomp out violence.”
• Decorate a wall with artwork, murals, etc. reflecting anger management techniques.

Day 3: Resolve Conflicts Peacefully

• Model a “mediation” in front of student body showing process of peer mediation.
• Run a student-made public service announcement on the importance of managing conflicts peacefully.
• Conduct assembly with speaker on teen dating issues, conflicts, challenges and violence. Include a skit to reinforce information.

Day 4: Support Safety

• Conduct a safety-themed poster contest. Display and let students or faculty judge.
• Distribute information to students on Internet safety.
• Set up a table or area where students can identify safe and unsafe places in their school or surrounding communities.

Day 5: Unite In Action

• Honor School Resource Officers and other law enforcement at school lunch.
• Collect new or gently-used items such as teddy bears or children’s books at domestic violence shelters or emergency-serving agencies.
• Hold an evening for parent/child discussions. Have a speaker to address ways to communicate between parents and children and vice-versa. Set up tables for one-on-one chats for children and parents to talk about issues.

For even more activity ideas, click here!