2020 Fundraiser: Help Us Film Our Program for Older Elementary
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“We’ve known for years that we wanted to create video versions of each of our 4 age-appropriate, student-led programs so that students across the country could benefit from our programs,” said Amy Jones Anichini, Founder and President of Act Like You Matter (“ALYM”) and Executive Director and Author of its division Theatre of Peace: Youth Anti-Bullying Acting Troupe (“TOP”). “When the COVID pandemic hit, one of the positives I chose to focus on was the gift of time that it handed us as an organization. We’ve been able to use the time that would have been spent preparing to perform live on school campuses to plan how we’ll create video versions of our programs, so we can serve even more students – whether they’re on campus, distance learning, or homeschooled.”
About the Program You’re Helping Support:
Act Like You Matter: Anti-Bullying Empowerment Assembly for Older Elementary
Act Like You Matter: Anti-Bullying Empowerment Assembly for Older Elementary is unlike any other program available:
Run by Students for Students:
Programs are delivered by student actors that are close in age to or slightly older than elementary students. We awaken the student audience to how their words and actions impact each other. Students see that we “get it,” can relate to what they’re experiencing, and want to share solutions.
Age Appropriate:
Scenarios reflect bullying behaviors and language that are common among older elementary students. We hold students’ attention by communicating just like they do with their peers.
Tips, Tools, & Strategies Handout:
Handout for each student summarizing everything we demonstrated (and more!) for students to refer to and use as a resource, no matter what “role” they play in the cycle of bullying (target, bystander, follower, bully.) Includes lots of blank space where students can brainstorm and make the tools their own.
Solution Driven:
Every scenario we perform shows at least one person making the decision to do something about what’s happening. We demonstrate a wide range of strategies, so that each student might be able to find some tools they would feel comfortable trying.
Strategies that are Easy to Implement:
Our program is packed with tools and strategies that are straight-forward and easy to implement. Students can use them immediately to overcome and combat bullying and build their resilience.
What Makes Our Programs Truly Unique:
Our programs are run entirely by students ages 11-19 from Theatre of Peace: Youth Anti-Bullying Acting Troupe (“TOP”) – a division of Act Like You Matter. We believe that children are more likely to learn from anti-bullying programs that are delivered by students, as opposed to adults. They have “street cred” that adults just don’t have!
Each TOP actor has had experience with bullying: some have been targets, some bystanders, and, yes, some have bullied others. We give feedback on the scripts we perform and help create the programs we run. We make sure that all our content is current, believable, and relevant to kids our age and younger.
Thank You!
We can’t thank you enough for your support in helping us bring our programs to families and schools across the country and around the globe. Together, we can empower more children and teens to find their voice, stand up for themselves and others, and help bring bullying to an end. You matter!
– Theatre of Peace (all 31 of us!)