Overview
Our No Hit Zone Story-How Pens Up Canes Down Became a Movement
It started with a simple but painful truth. Too many children were learning in fear.
In classrooms, homes, and community spaces, violence had become normal, often justified as discipline. At Future Leaders Initiative SL (FLI SL), we knew this had to change. Not through shouting. Not through blame. But through a new way of thinking and living. That is how Pens Up Canes Down was born.
When we learned about the No Hit Zone approach, the connection was natural. The idea that schools, homes, and public spaces should be places where hitting is not allowed spoke directly to what we were already fighting for. Dignity. Safety. Respect for children. But for us, a No Hit Zone could not just be a poster on a wall.
So we took it to the people.
We began working directly with children, providing them platform to understand their rights and giving them the confidence to speak up and protect one another. We sat with parents, listening to their struggles and introducing nonviolent ways of guiding and raising children. We supported teachers who wanted calm classrooms but lacked the tools. We engaged communities so that everyone understood that protecting children is a shared responsibility.
Slowly, something changed.
Today, FLI SL has practically implemented No Hit Zone principles in over 80 schools, homes, and community spaces. Not as a rule imposed from outside, but as a culture built from within.
This is what makes our approach different.
We believe real change comes from the ground up. When children, parents, teachers, and community members move together, nonviolence stops being a concept and becomes a daily practice.
As we continue this work, our vision is clear.
To see No Hit Zones spread across Sierra Leone and Africa, not just in name, but in action. Spaces where children are safe, respected, and free to learn. Spaces where canes are put down, and pens are lifted up.
This is not just our story. It is a growing movement. And it belongs to everyone.
What is the goal of the No Hit Zone? To create an environment of comfort and safety for parents, families, and staff present in every location and facility. A No Hit Zone sets a precedent within the community and establishes a commitment to the promotion of effective parenting techniques by instilling that:
No adult shall hit a child - No child shall hit another child- No adult shall hit another adult- No child shall hit an adult
As an organization, we believe in fostering a No Hit Zone environment as we recognize the profound impact it has on promoting positive relationships, ensuring the well-being of all individuals, and building a community grounded in respect and understanding. Join us in creating spaces free from violence and committed to nurturing healthy connections.
