Virtual creative writing helps Kiwi kids 'feel brave'

More than 8000 children across New Zealand schools participated in live 'virtual' creative writing workshop as part of an effort to promote children's wellbeing.

The workshop was held as part of the launch of a new emotional wellbeing content series, called 'Feel Brave' 1 Dose/Day programme, sponsored by global tech company Cisco.

The Feel Brave programme aims to help bring children together in friendship in order to build powerful tools that can help them manage anxiety, emotions, build resilience, and ultimately help them to 'feel brave' by committing to a dose per day of emotional wellbeing.

The video series, which was recently produced in Christchurch with best-selling author and founder of Feel Brave, Avril McDonald, and the NZ Life Education Trust, was used in a virtual workshop that children could participate in as they watch.

The video series will be available to children later this year through various children's broadcast channels, and on Air New Zealand international flights via the inflight entertainment system. The series aims to give all children access to tools that help them manage tough emotions and reach their potential.

Feel Brave founder Avril McDonald says 70,000 students from around the world have benefited from the programme already.

"We've rolled out Feel Brave in 300 schools across 10 countries and have seen a really positive shift in participants' self-confidence and resilience. We're very grateful to have Cisco's support and incredible resources to enable us to reach as many kids as possible.

Cisco provided the WebEx platform that helped children to participate in the creative writing exercise.

Cisco's Dave Wilson says, ""Feel Brave is part of Cisco's drive to positively impact one billion lives by 2025. We are thrilled to be able to use our resources and technologies like Webex to support such a powerful and important programme that will help thousands of school children in New Zealand and beyond.