Over 16 fortnightly sessions, junior ambassadors volunteer their break times to take part in games and activities that link into our programme’s core themes of: Looking After Me,  Me and Others, My Place in the World, Understanding Bullying, Taking Positive Action and Being Prepared.

Sessions run for between 45 minutes and an hour and are delivered by a Sticks ‘n Stones Community Facilitator often with support from a staff member who takes on the role of ‘Champion’.

Each session is broken down into 4 parts:

• Intro Game
• Concept or skill
• Activity
• Reflection/feedback

Jr Ambassadors receive an activity book every two terms to support them to reflect, discuss their learning at home with their whanau and to go back to if they need support or help.

This programme is currently only available in Central Otago.

• Exploring Friendship
• Being a Good Friend
• Self Talk
• Self Esteem
• Being Included and Including Others
• Types of Communication
• Assertiveness
• Emotions (2 sessions)
• Learning about Bullying 
• Promoting Harmony and Kindness
• Cyberbullying (2 sessions)
• Resilience (2 sessions)
• Reflection and Celebration

These are strengths based, social and emotional learning opportunities and give a positive starting point for them to understand and value themselves and support them to relate to others.

This means that we focus on practical skills that can make a real difference day to day with friendships and relationships with others.

The sessions have been created by our team in partnership with a psychologist experienced in bullying prevention and ACT therapy.

Jr Ambassadors have time each session to plan their own activities and events to run within their school to share their learning with other students.  This ownership is important for putting skills into practice and taking pesonal and collective responsibility.

Junior Ambassadors reflect each fortnight on their learning and give feedback about the sessions so that they can be improved or changed.

“The junior ambassador programme has brought lots of kids together so we all understand how to help other kids and raise awareness about bullying and its effects. It is definitely for kids that want to make a change”

Tay, 11