The Zonta Club of Valea Prahovei, Romania, partnered with the Z Club Spiru Haret Prahova, Cocorastii Colt Secondary School and the Prahova County Police Department to create awareness surrounding our cause- prevention of violence by putting in place workshops with 10 classes from Spiru Haret High School. 

Together with the school’s educational advisor and headmaster, the club presented its organization and projects and started its anti-violence workshops. They involved 200 students and discussed types of violence and cyberbullying.

The challenge presented in this campaign was with a specific class: 10K. In this class, there have been several reported violent incidents involving students and extra counseling and guidance were needed. The club wanted to take specific action to improve this community of students where the Z club studies daily.

This class consists of twenty boys and only one girl, who is subjected to bullying instead of being protected. Two opinion leaders have behavioral problems and refuse to work with specific teachers or school counselors. For this class workshop, the club requested the help of the Prahova County Police Department. The club received help from Commissioner Liliana Marin and Inspector Ana Stroe, who participated in counseling and debates. They discussed with the students about violence, its causes and consequences, and concepts such as discernment were explained to them, as well as crime, misdemeanors, assault and what charges can be made for such behavior.

To further address this issue, the club:

• Followed up with our anti-violence prevention campaign in Cocorastii Colt Middle School, where over 60 students participated.
• Carried out a debate activity with the support of the local Argo Debate Club. Sixty Spiru Haret High School students, 10 leading teachers, the educational council and the two debate teams formed three teams. The debate theme consisted of the Romanian Parliament’s motion to sanction mass media institutions for the perpetuation of stereotypes related to the issue of violence.
• Organized a short film competition on the theme of violence at Spiru Haret High School, where they awarded two prizes and a mention. 
•  Arranged a raffle named “Together we do good deeds” with 300 participants. The raffle raised 800 euros, which were directed to the counseling of victim violence support therapy and equipment for the high school canteen.
•  Illuminated the Spiru Haret High School in orange and made an orange panel with anti-violence messages for all the students that come to school every day to see. Twenty students and five teachers were involved in this activity.