Social commitment

The "My body belongs to me!" project

For many years, MonsterSlush has supported the performance of the play "Mein Körper gehört mir!" ("My body belongs to me!") by the theaterpädagogische werkstatt Osnabrück at elementary school throughout Germany as part of our social commitment. We asked Anna Pallas what exactly is behind it and why the play is so important. She is the managing director of the theaterpädagogische werkstatt in Osnabrück (tpw), which devised the play.

Interview

MonsterSlush: Ms Pallas, what exactly does the tpw theater program "My body belongs to me!" involve?

A.P.: Two theater educators perform scenes that are based on the reality of children's lives, such as a bus ride, playing in the schoolyard or making new "friends" in the chat room. These scenes are used to develop a series of topics on forms of sexualized violence. Interaction is particularly important here, as the children are encouraged to ask questions, make suggestions and communicate in general. In this way, they learn what sexual abuse is, that they can trust their feelings and that everyone has the right to say "No!" if a touch is unpleasant. In the interaction phases of the program, our drama teachers have the option of using a modified approach. This allows them to respond individually to the needs of the pupils.

MonsterSlush: What concept is used to address the topic of sexual violence in "My body belongs to me!"?

A.P.: Our prevention approach is to educate and raise awareness of the issue of sexual violence in order to give children and young people the chance to lead a carefree, self-determined life. An important part of our work is empowering children by openly addressing the issue and providing them with suggestions for action and strategies. The whole thing is presented in a theatrical-aesthetic form of expression, so that children as spectators have the opportunity to choose for themselves whether they want to maintain a critical distance or identify empathically. In the interaction phases of the program, the children can contribute their own questions and opinions. The theater educators can thus react very individually.

MonsterSlushAnd how do you deal with any questions or concerns from parents and teachers?

A.P.: Prevention can succeed if not only the children but also their parents/guardians and teachers are involved. We therefore offer to book a presentation event of our program "for adults" before the implementation in the classes. Specialists from the police or a counseling center can be brought in to answer questions and concerns. The latter (almost always) dissolve when they experience how sensitively, easily and child-friendly the topic of sexual abuse is dealt with. Our advice: Watch "My body belongs to me!"!

MonsterSlush: How can the program sensitize children? What do they actually take away from the theater program?

A.P.: With our program, children learn what sexual abuse is and that the perpetrator is always to blame, never the child. They also learn that they can get help if they tell a trusted person what is happening to them or what they have experienced in the past. Our teams are repeatedly approached by children who tell them that they are being abused. Many of these children only learn through our program that what is happening to them is forbidden and that they do not have to endure it. Knowledge makes you strong! The better informed children are and the better they can assess their own perceptions and feelings, the better protected they are. They are encouraged to trust their feelings of no, to tell others about them and to get help if they need it. There are boundaries that no one is allowed to cross! This is the clear message that the children can take home with them.

We would like to thank Ms. Pallas from tpw for the interview!

If you would like to find out more about the work of the tpw and the "My body belongs to me" project, you can register at here inform.

For this year, we are still looking for elementary school that we can enable to perform "My body belongs to me!".