Dignity Revolution Challenge (DRC) is an in-depth student and teacher-led program which utilizes positive messages and activities to demonstrate the worth, value, and dignity of every student. As a premier anti-bullying program, DRC stands apart from other programs because it focuses on the root issues of self-worth and the value of every human being. When you guide students to understand that each person deserves respect, a culture change occurs. The Challenge is a customizable bullying prevention program.

The purpose of the Challenge is to aid students and teachers in understanding the worth, value, and dignity of every person. The Challenge can be customized to fit your school’s needs to reach the following target goals:

Students will understand the impact of hurtful behavior on their physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual well-being.

Students will know who, how, and where to report bullying incidents and will be encouraged to be upstanders, not bystanders.

Students will gain skills to stand up for the intrinsic value of every person and will be empowered to daily live out the Dignity Revolution Pledge.

Dignity Revolution Challenge was created by Deborah L. Tackmann (2012 National Teacher Hall of Fame Inductee), Bob Lenz (International Speaker and Author), and a team of experienced teachers. It was created based on the belief that students can change the world and that a simple encounter with love can motivate students to treat others with dignity and respect.

Dignity Revolution assists schools in creating a safe environment for every student to learn by:

• Providing tools to teach principles of honor and respect
• Teaching students to recognize bullying
• Offering courage to stand up for those who are marginalized

Dignity Revolution teaches students how to recognize, report, and intervene in a bullying situation, but it is not your typical “recognize and prevent” bullying program. Dignity Revolution provides a holistic approach to a very serious problem among our youth. Through specially designed tools and activities, Dignity Revolution identifies the root causes of bullying and its devastating impact on everyone involved. It teaches students who are bullied to recognize and embrace the dignity and value they hold as a unique individual, as well as how to stand up to bullying. But Dignity Revolution doesn’t stop there. It also teaches those who are doing the bullying to recognize their own value and dignity, and it empowers them to reflect on how their behavior and actions affect others as well as themselves. It is estimated that 20% of high school students are being bullied at any given time. However, in schools with anti-bullying programs, bullying is reduced by 57%.

When students recognize their own value, they more readily recognize and embrace the value of others.

Overview of Activities

The Challenge includes core activities and the prepared materials and supplies for these activities. After completing the core activities, supplemental activities are included to reinforce concepts. All activities have been created based on national standards which are embedded within the lessons and take approximately 30 minutes to complete. The lessons are hands-on activities which engage multiple intelligences and are easily embedded within your curriculum. Below is a brief description of the core activities.

MISSION POSSIBLE looks at the effects of stress and bullying on our bodies. In this hands-on activity, students discover how they can be part of the change by stopping bullying and reducing stress in their own lives. Students receive a mission inside of a balloon. Their mission is to learn about the effects that stress and bullying have on their body. Also embedded within this lesson are your school’s bullying prevention policies.

UNTANGLED teaches “I Messages” to empower students to get out of difficult situations by using a team-building activity as an illustration. This activity connects two students with strings around their wrists. The object is to untangle themselves. The frustration this activity inspires is then paralleled to what it is like to be in an unhealthy relationship or bullying experience. Students learn to use “I Messages” to resolve these difficult situations and the trick to becoming untangled is revealed.

BONDING BANDAGES demonstrates the prominent negativity in our society today. A bandage is used to challenge students to be positive in what they think and say for 24 hours. Students will put a bandage on the top of their hand to remind them that every 9-16 seconds there is an act of violence or a woman abused. Just like physical violence, words hurt.

ENCOURAGEMENT BUBBLES are a visual demonstration for the entire school to experience the uniqueness of every person. Student leaders create one bubble with specific, encouraging affirmation for every person in the school which are displayed in a prominent location.

DIGNITY RIBBONS create a practical reminder that one in five students are bullied at any given time. To demonstrate this statistic, a magnetic ribbon is placed on every fifth locker.

PLEDGE SIGNING encourages all students to stand up for the value of every person. Students will organize a time and place for everyone to sign the pledge banner and hang it prominently in the school as a daily reminder of the Dignity Revolution they’re a part of.

The most effective way to implement your own Dignity Revolution is by combining the following elements:

Get more information on how you can Adopt-A-School and bring the Dignity Revolution Challenge to your area!

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