Be-Free Program conducted a specialized training as requested by Dar Al Aman, Abused Women Shelter affiliated to the Ministry of Social Development. The specialized training workshop was for those who work with parents in domestic violence in order to help in protecting children and teens living in such environments. The training lasted for 3 days, attended by trainees from different organizations, including Dar Al Aman, Ministry of Social Development. Ministry of Education, related Societies, Child Protection Center, and police.

Be-Free program works on the prevention and protection of children and teens from bullying, through different means, such as booklets, training guides, and workshops that contribute in raising the level of their awareness about the dangers of bullying, and helping them to become a source of good to others rather than bullying, and hurting them.

Be-Free program launched two booklets titled “The Student and Bullying”, one for students, and one for parents, among the series of “Color Your Life with your Choices”. The student’s booklet contains some of the important concepts about bullying in an interactive and fun way that helps students to think, analyze, and deal smartly with bullying, such as the effects of bullying, where and when does it occur, some of its consequences that the student who get bullied might suffer from, with a focus on the skills that can help him to face bullying, and protect himself from it. Moreover, it contains some concepts and skills that help the bully to understand the damage it can cause to himself, and others, and to stop it.

Be-Free Program conducted a group of workshops titled “I’m Strong, Smart, and Safe Child” about the prevention and protection skills from abuse, for HSBC staff’s children and grade one students of Ibn Khuldoon National School. Some of the workshops were in Arabic and some in English, and covered 137 child.

Adolescence is a sensitive phase of life to teens, where they build their personalities, and shape their ideas and opinions based on different inputs and meanings that they perceive as important and essential. It is difficult for teens to find a space to convey their thoughts and discuss it in an open and honest way, away from indifference, criticism, ridicule and stultification and the assumption that they lack understanding, which may be directed at them from adults or from their peers.

The family has a big influence on crystallizing the personality of the children and adolescents and forming their identity. All of this gets reflected on them as students at school. Family problems can have different effects on the students, and some problems have strong negative influence, therefore Be-Free issued two booklets titled “Family Problems” among the series of the “Color Your Life with Your Choices” booklets. One addresses students, and one for the parents, to help them mitigate the negative effects on the current and future character of the students, and their academic achievements.

Dr. Rana Alsairafi, Executive manager of Be-Free Program participated in the International Education Conference, which is held annually with the participation of educational institutes from all around the world. The conference was held in United Kingdom from 8 to 10 June, with participants from 51 countries, and 290 papers.

Be-Free presented its project “Instilling Universal Knowledge”, which assists educational institutions with its different levels in adopting innovative and creative methods to make the institutions a more desirable place for students. It increases their awareness, and moves them beyond learning to reach universal knowledge. It inspires them to transcend the limitations of self-centered life to aspire for building communities and painting their Humanistic mark on the world.

Esmat Hammad, member of Be-Free Program participated in the workshop titled “Cognitive Educational Matrix of Knowledge Family Initiative”, at the invitation of His Highness Prince Faisal Bin Abdullah Al Saud the president of the permanent steering committee of Al-Aghar Group.

The workshop aims at discussing and developing the main projects in the “Knowledge Family” Initiative that was launched by Al-Aghar Group in January 2015. The initiative aims at supporting the transformation of Saudi Arabia into a knowledge society, starting with the importance of the family in the upbringing of a new generation led by the culture of knowledge and learning.

Be-Free issued a training guide for a series of workshops titled “Joyfulness” for children in elementary school. It aims at introducing the value of Joy and its importance in the children’s life, and how to deal with life situation in a way that helps them instill this value. The guide consists of four workshops as follows:

1.I balance my happiness and sadness: This workshop helps children in dealing with the events of their life in a balanced way, so they do not get immersed in sad events, and derive their energy and activeness from the happy events and appreciate it.
2. Joyfulness Is my source of happiness: The aim of this workshop is to convey the concepts of joy to children, and how to give life events meanings that contribute in developing and building their personality.

Be-Free Program of Bahrain Women Association - for Human Development won the second position of the Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa Award for Voluntary Work, which was organized by the Good Word Society, and Arab Voluntary Work Union.
The award ceremony was held during the celebrations of Arab Day for Voluntary Work. Mrs. Mary Rose, The United Nations Volunteers Program Officer, attended the ceremony, with a group of UN volunteers, along with a delegation from 18 Arab countries.

Be-Free Program participated with “Smart +” project, that won the Award. The project aims at protecting children, and teenagers from the dangers of internet and new devices, cooperating with related organizations to contribute in creating a safer cyber environment for children, as well as spreading awareness among the community, and building the skills that children, teenagers, and caregivers need in this regard.

Be-Free Program of Bahrain Women Association - for Human Development and with the support of Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait published a coloring book titled “I’m a respectful, strong, and smart child” that helps children understand bullying, and how to replace it with positive concepts and actions so their presence become a source of goodness for others.

The coloring book was launched during the Universal children’s day, and it contains important concepts for children in Arabic and English. The book has a drawing of an act of bullying on one page along with a simple description, and another drawing of a positive act on the next page along with a simple description, and so on.

Be-Free Program of Bahrain Women Association - for Human Development held an event in Bahrain Mall on 19th and 20th November to celebrate Universal Children’s Day and World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse. The event’s slogan was “My Presence Is a Source of Goodness for Others”, which aims at reducing bullying among children.

Bullying is when a child, or group of children hurt another child or a group of children with the intention to make them feel bad about themselves, destroy their confidence, and to belittle them in front of their peers. Bullying is common among some children, and has tremendous effects on both the bully, and the bullied.

A stepping stone contributing in children taking responsibility of their development

Be-Free Program of Bahrain Women’s Society - for Human Development, launched a training guide for the trainers for the workshop series titled “I take responsibility of my life - the smart way” for elementary students, that can be implemented by teachers or trainers in the school, club or any gathering for children in that age group. The guide contains four detailed workshops with titles: “I follow my beautiful dream”, “I always choose what develops me”, “I take responsibility and get solutions - in a smart way” and “I get ready… Think… Find smart solutions to achieve my work”.