Frequently asked questions

What is the basic ideology behind the KiVa antibullying program?

Bullying is a group phenomenon. Thus, the principal aim of the program is to prevent bullying before it even happens. By influencing the group norms and building capacity to behave in a constructive manner in social interaction, children are encouraged to take responsibility for not supporting the bully but the vulnerable peers. In addition to being preventive, KiVa is also interventive with clear guidelines to tackle bullying when it does take place.

Can our school become a KiVa school?

KiVa is implemented in close cooperation with a Licensed KiVa Partner operating in a specific country or region. It is not possible to become a KiVa school if there is no KiVa partner available in your country or region, but we are constantly looking for new partner organizations and the situation may not be the same after some time. Countries and regions using KiVa can be found here.

What costs are involved in becoming a Licensed KiVa Partner?

All prices are agreed upon through a licensing agreement. It is possible to commit to a single payment which covers all the costs, or a yearly basic fee and royalties. In both models the contract is signed for 3-5 years at a time. The costs include the right to use the KiVa trademark, distribute KiVa in a certain region, the training for the trainers, all KiVa materials including the KiVa games and online surveys as well as setting up of the infrastructure for the implementation of KiVa.

What is a KiVa trainer and how do I become one?

A KiVa trainer is a certified trainer who is a member of a partner organization or collaborates with such an organization and is responsible for training teachers in schools implementing the KiVa program in the region. To become one, participation in the trainer course is required. The training consists of a five-day-course organized in Turku, Finland. Find more information on the training here.

In which countries or regions is KiVa antibullying program already available?

Outside of Finland the KiVa antibullying program is currently in use in various countries in Europe, South America, as well as in New Zealand. Furthermore, some school chains such as The European School Network, are using KiVa. We are currently negotiating with several countries, and KiVa antibullying program is constantly expanding. An updated list of countries and regions can be found here.

What materials are included in KiVa?

KiVa consists of a great variety of materials. All materials are divided into three different age groups; Unit 1 for 6-9 year olds, Unit 2 for 10-12 year olds, and Unit 3 for 13-16 year olds. Each unit consists of materials for teachers, pupils and parents including teacher’s manuals, student lessons, parents’ guide, presentation graphics, video clips, online games as well as online monitoring tools.

How long does it take to start the implementation of KiVa ?

Our experience has shown that in case no KiVa material exists in a certain language, the whole production process will take more or less one year. It is reasonable to allocate a full semester for the production of all material (including games, videos, manuals, presentations etc.) In case the material already exists in a certain language, the time frame for production is shorter. However, it is still recommended to reserve several months for marketing, as well as recruiting schools and training their personnel.

How does KiVa involve parents?

At the beginning of the school year all the parents should be invited to the school and be informed about KiVa and how it works. KiVa school should maintain active communication with parents throughout the whole year. KiVa also provides a parents’ guide which is available online.

Who owns the rights to the KiVa antibullying program?

The KiVa antibullying program is owned by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture. The University of Turku (together with its licensed partners) has an exclusive right to implement it outside of Finland. Partner organizations are granted the right to market, distribute, sell KiVa products and use the knowledge related to the program for the purpose of implementing the program in the region specified by the partner licensing agreement.