Since it’s launch, the Break the Box curriculum has aimed to address the root causes of sexual violence by boosting the protective factors of gender equality, connectedness, conflict resolution skills, and empathy. Simultaneously the curriculum aims to promote an environment where risk factors of hypermasculinity, hostility toward women, and unhealthy attitudes about sex, sexuality, and consent are decreased in students. In the first semester, students engage in discussion and reflection of these topics during 9 sessions. During the second semester, students move to an action phase where they engage with their school and community by orchestrating their own projects to promote the very topics they worked through during the first semester. Sarah and I are eagerly anticipating facilitating this curriculum in Hutto ISD this fall.
The second curriculum our team uses is Hope Alliance’s very own Project Empowerment. This curriculum’s purpose is to develop assets in children that foster non-violence lifestyles. The topics encourage students to make healthy choices, gain responsibility in relationships, and to increase self-awareness. Using discussion and activities students are challenged to take inventory of the world around them and take increased ownership in their everyday lives. Jenna has been facilitating this curriculum at Annunciation Maternity Home in Georgetown this summer and I am enthusiastic about the classes I will add at Success High School in Round Rock when school begins in the fall!
Hannah Machoni,
Primary Prevention Specialist