Are you looking for an experiential program in social/emotional learning that is trauma informed?
Are you looking for ways to build self-efficacy in students, get them more engaged in school, and teach them how to resolve conflict peacefully?
Are you looking for a powerful cross cultural tool to promote leadership, enhance emotional intelligence, and foster empathy and community among students and/or staff?
We can help!
We have served hundreds of kids and many administrative teams realizing phenomenal results with our Power Not Force Program. The program uses horses as engaging co-facilitators, to promote social and emotional learning and leadership skills needed by these kiddos to become successful and fulfilled members of society. The work with the horses is researched based, does not involve riding, and employs cutting edge neuroscience and educational concepts to impact participants brain development, behavior, attitude, self-efficacy and spirit. The majority of the horse work is experiential, done in silence, and open to outcome. Although we have carefully developed a curriculum, the program is student driven and crafted to each group’s particular needs.
Our Results
Our results have been overwhelmingly positive. Almost all of our students have demonstrated a dramatic increase in self-efficacy. Most of our “at risk kids” say they have never felt so positive about themselves in their whole life. They also say they have never felt so calm. General trends include a dramatic increase in positive connections with school counselors, teachers and administrators. We also see an increase in school involvement as well as greater class participation and leadership. Some of the kids begin to excel academically, while others simply become, as one principle said “visibly happier and better human beings.” There seems to be a pattern of kids first realizing a dramatic increase in self-efficacy, then maintaining healthier friendships and family relationships, and then having the confidence to joining sports teams and other extracurricular school activities. Some have become top athletes in the state and/or district.
It is common for office referrals to dramatically decrease in our students. For instance, one year we saw a 75% drop in office referrals among our students while the overall number of office referrals for that grade level actually increased.
What teachers and students have said about Amani’s Power not Force Program
“Over my last six years at Lincoln, I have seen and been a part of many different programs. None have been as effective and rewarding as the equine program. This program provides a true continuum of growth; meeting students where they are at in 6th grade and helping them grow into mature 8th graders who are able to problem solve, manage disappointment, and build healthy relationships.”
“This program changed my life. It is the most important thing that I have done. It has given me confidence and taught me how to be responsible for my actions.”
“Without this program I would probably have been expelled from school. But now I feel more confident and stay out of trouble.”
“This program finally gave me hope. It taught me how to take risk and how to have hope.”
“This program helps you express your feelings and not be afraid what others think…there are no right and wrong answers.”
“Around the horses I learned to stay calm and quiet. That’s what you have to do here (in school). You have to stay calm and quiet so you can understand what they are teaching. The horses taught me how to do that.”
“Establishing lasting peace is the work of education; all politics can do is keep us out of war.”
~Maria Montessori