“Graffiti-free school” programme in Hungary

Summary: focus the attention to the culpability of creating graffiti

In the framework of the project a small feature film was made which presented the creation of graffiti as a culpable action. With the usage of this film, forums were organized for the older students of primary schools of the city centre. In addition, this film was broadcasted in the local media. The most important element of the programme is to focus the attention to the culpability of creating graffiti among the children who are often taking part in this activity. In order to raise the awareness workshops as an extracurricular activity will also be organized aiming at the removal of the graffiti from the schools. Furthermore, spreading information on this kind of crime prevention and designating legal walls in the educational institutions is very important too.

Issue: to prevent crime, offer forums and a feature film on “Graffiti-free school”

The “Graffiti-free school” programme was supported by the Ministry of Interior and the National Crime Prevention Commission in Pécs City and was carried out in the spring of 2011. The beneficiaries are the kindergartens and primary schools of the city centre. The project provides information about the culpability of graffiti for the children and aims to prevent crime by workshops as an extracurricular activity, forums and a feature film.

Approach: thought –provoking and long term resolution

The film “Graffiti love” aims at being thought-provoking in order to make the children think of ideas which can be discussed. The student actors were cast in the school centre. The adult characters were also amateurs from universities.
Following the establishment of the workshop groups the teachers and children participated in a theoretical and practical training where they also received the necessary tools and equipment for their future removal work by the Foundation. These groups will do their work based on an annual work plan in the new school year. One of their important tasks will be the protection of the built environment and raising the awareness of their peer group about this theme, especially the prevention of creating graffiti in their school and direct surroundings.
For the long-term maintenance of the programme, the results of the workshops and its mind-set are included in the member schools' tutorial programmes.

Results: discussion were initiated about the effect of graffiti within the city

The forums and workshops attracted considerable interest among the children, in the training phase the students' activity was outstanding and many questions were raised. The forums were attended by 261 participants, during which students joined the discussion and shared their opinion about the film and graffiti. During the realization of the project 3 workshop groups were established in 3 of the member institutes. Following the forums another 2 groups will possibly come into existence. The infants and students received information about the programme through posters and leaflets. The small feature film was broadcasted 6 times on Pécs TV and the regional studio of the Hungarian Television (MTV) also presented it once. The small feature film was reproduced on DVD in 30 copies for other educational institutions of the city and Foundation offered to help to set up similar workshop groups.

Resources used

3.400.000 HUF from the Ministry of Interior and National Crime Prevention Commission

Beneficiaries

• MIOK Foundation for the underprevilidged people
• Kindergarten, Primary School and Elemantry Art Education Institute Ground of City Centre (5 primary school, 1 kindergarten, 1 music school)
• MMBC Film Ltd.

Organisation

MIOK Foundation for the underprevilidged people

Contact person

János Szabó

Function

Programme manager

Phone

+36 72 414 103

Email

alapitvany@miokpecs.hu