Our Programs /
"Safety School"
Given the opportunity, children, parents and teachers will endeavor to avoid accidents. We see fun, innovative education as the solution. As a result, UWH launched its flagship program Safety School in 2010 which continues in 2012.
Primary Aim of Project: Risk reduction via preventive program – safety school delivers interactive education and training to children, their parents and teachers so to reduce the number of avoidable accidents such as falls in the home, burns or drowning.
Needs of Community: United Way Hungary bases its educational program on data professionally collected by the Hungarian Institute for Child Health, UNICEF, WHO and EU's Eurosafe. Most importantly, avoidable accidents—which we aim to prevent—are the #1 reason why Hungary's children are dying each year. 5-children die each week and another 460+ visit the hospital because of avoidable accidents.
How does this program specifically help:
- In a fun, interactive learning environment, children learn simple ways to stay safe—especially in the home. Beside the road, the home is the most dangerous place for a child.
- Children will learn fun ways that remind them to be safe. Additionally, they will be given printed materials, safety equipment (e.g., reflective safety bracelets)
- Teachers will also be part of the training. As the children learn, they will learn too. Additionally, parents and teachers will receive printed materials, safety equipment (e.g., safety vests) that helps them keep their homes and schools safe.
- The program relates to a 10 year long action plans, which aims to reduce the avoidable injuries by 30% in childhood. The action plan based on data professionally collected and related to a wider scale European Union program lead by Eurosafe.
Why this program is unique?
- Program meets children, teachers and parents where they are.
- Teaching methods are highly interactive. The program is not about “What not to do…” but about how safety can be fun and easy to understand.
- Learning continues after the program using printed and on-line materials.
- Positions the schools, youth clubs, culture centers, etc. as adding value and demonstrating their interest in keeping children safe. This helps build further trust between the parent and the school
Results of the Program
’Safety School’ Program
Results of school year of 2010 – 2011
The autumn of 2010 United Way Hungary (UWH) has launched its Community Impact program, and as a result of that the organization turns its full attention to prevent and solve community problems. UWH’s Board of Trustees decided to focus on preventing avoidable accidents which is the #1 reason why children die in Hungary. This objective is a long-term commitment which results in real results.
United Way Hungary is guided by a strong desire to produce proactive, innovative and sustainable solutions. UWH launched its flagship program – Safety school. UWH visits schools to educate children, and those that care for them, on how to stay safe. UWH’s vision is to take this fun educational program to all children in Hungary with particular attention to disadvantaged areas.
The foundation’s effort is now part of a coordinated larger effort and partnership with the Hungary’s National Institute of Child Health. We share a common and attainable goal to reduce unintentional injury mortality rate by 30% in childhood.
Results
The pilot program started at one school in Budapest, involving 3rd and 5th grade students. The leading teachers were trained drama teachers. The number of the children directly reached through the program was 180, the nr. of indirectly reached parents were 360. The children welcomed the program exceedingly, and the support from the teachers and the principal was unambiguous. For measuring results UWH used a questionnaire created by a sociologist. The aim of the measurement was to compare the level of safety knowledge before and after the educational program. The results showed 15% progress.
The program continued in 4 countryside and 1 Budapest school in 2011, again at 3rd and 5th grades. Besides the lead drama teachers, 10 observer teachers at the local schools were involved who will continue the program during the upcoming years at their schools. It is important to highlight the fact that the observer teachers taught and will teach the program as volunteers. The number of the children directly reached in this period was 750, the nr. of indirectly reached parents were 1500. The schools’ commitment has strengthened. The results showed 22% progress in comparison with the original knowledge.
The first teachers' training was held in November 23, 2011. 35 teachers participated. During the day the basics of the method was presented by the key teachers.
The trained school teachers will continue the program in their schools using the teachers' package provided by United Way Hungary.
More pictures:
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2012Januar17?authkey=Gv1sRgCPWLkMTIu9HU5QE
Still it is clear to us that we need greater time, energy and attention for the acknowledgement and motivation of the involved teachers. It is also obvious that in the disadvantaged areas the safety knowledge is lower in comparison with the more advanced schools. Thus the program will focus on disadvantaged schools and areas in a higher scale.
Further objectives in activities and numbers
The foundation aims to reach a real community impact as it follows:
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Extending the Safety School program on countrywide reach
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Embedding the program to the National Curriculum
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Building and operating a volunteer teacher network as a best practice and example
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Strengthening and coordinating the cooperation with organizations working on child injury prevention field
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Developing reliable injury statistics and measurement procedures with partner organizations
For additional information, please contact:
Tamás Füzesy, managing director, United Way Hungary.
Phone: +36 1 236 97 31
tamas.fuzesy@unitedway.hu
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