GASIRA Muda Champion

“This project helps me a lot in developing my leadership skills. Through this project, I was able to organize activities, design a sex education module, advocate the government, build networks with schools, and train participants to become Champions.”

The goal of the project is to eradicate violence against children in Ambon City

Main Objectives:

• Develop understanding and increase the awareness of violence against children through education at school
• Involving young people to contribute on violence against children by being peer supporter and Champion
• Introducing an active bystander module to young people
• Introducing the peer supporter module and training to be used by Gasira Maluku as a prevention of violence against children
• Develop the capability of Gasira Maluku to provide a sustainable program

The GASIRA Muda Champion project, initiated by Vuadi Gennaio Mailoa through GASIRA Maluku, aimed to combat violence against children in Ambon City by engaging junior high school students as peer-supporters. The project trained 9 selected students (3 male and 6 female) from three different schools to understand child rights, sexual violence, and how to respond as active bystanders. Originally planned for July 2020, the program was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and shifted to a hybrid model that included online sessions and a final offline gathering. The project involved coordination with schools, parental consent, and adaptation of modules to suit a younger audience.

The training included six thematic sessions, covering topics such as types and impacts of violence, adolescent reproductive health, consent, and bystander intervention. The sessions utilized interactive tools like Jamboard, Kahoot, role-playing, and group discussions, allowing the Champions to internalize the material and apply it to real-life scenarios. A reflective session on the final day allowed the Champions to express how the training transformed their knowledge, attitudes, and skills, including their empathy and ability to intervene when witnessing violence. A follow-up Sex Education Workshop involved 15 new students and allowed the Champions to mentor younger peers, reinforcing their roles as youth advocates.

The project successfully met its goals, including improved understanding of violence prevention among youth, development of peer-supporter roles, and increased capacity for GASIRA to deliver child protection programs. It also gained strong support from schools and the Ambon City Education Department, with hopes for future expansion. The project created an engaged, empowered group of youth leaders, built stronger partnerships with educators, and inspired students to advocate for safer school environments.