BREAK THE FIGHT! Hip Hop Against School Bullying

“Enhancing social inclusion through hip hop culture.”

Bullying is a common problem in most schools. The majority of students will experience bullying at some point in their lives - for some it is daily. We believe that every student has the right to be respected and accepted as they truly are. We want to create a positive environment for young people to exercise and succeed together.

Hip hop- culture was an alternative for violence among youths in Bronx New York during early 1970’s - why couldn’t it also be an alternative for bullying today? Break the Fight! – Breakdance against school bullying is a set of art education actions launched by the Arja Tiili Dance Company already in 2014. The action includes open art workshops and professional dance performances in elementary and high schools, secondary education, youth centers and semi public and public spaces. The workshops and longer courses encourages to work together and to act against bullying. It gives tools to address school bullying in a motivative way and also gives a voice for those students who need an alternative way to express themselves.

Break the Fight! provides art educational workshops, courses, updating education and professional performing art to municipalities; schools, youth centers, semi public and public spaces. Hip hop is used to promote non-violence in schools. School students take part in hip hop workshops (breaking, rapping, dj/beatboxing and graffiti art), try out new forms of self-expression, and discuss bullying in schools. We want to raise awareness and spread the word of anti-bullying.

Combating discrimination and poverty through cultural activities.

The Government Programme (2019-2023) emphasises (as did the previous one) the importance of wellbeing opportunities offered by the Culture field. The goal is to bring culture closer to everyone by increasing the amount of art on show in places that are easily accessible to all, such as public spaces and institutions. Access to culture is carried out by incorporating it into children’s and young people’s daily lives, such as activities offered before, after and during school days. One of the main actions is a regular nationwide survey on free-time activity wishes (for more information, visit Youth Wiki/Finland 8.3 National Strategy). The emphasis on accessibility highlights that a lack of funds, nor any other factor, need not become an obstacle when it comes to participating in cultural activities, and that wellbeing opportunities for wellbeing offered by the cultural field ought to be recognised.

Break the Fight® is trademark registered in Finland and in EUIPO. Finnish trademark registration nr. 262196. EU-trademark registration nr. 018207772.

For more info contact:

Break the Fight Oy, Ltd.
CEO and artistic director Arja Tiili
+358 50 375 67 28
arja.tiili@breakthefight.com

Coordinator
Jenna Laine
+ 358 40 143 55 57
koordinaattori@breakthefight.com