“The Smile of the Child” gives the floor to children on Νational Antibullying Day. Children speak and we listen and act!

On the occasion of the 6^th of March, National Antibullying Day, students of the Group on the Rights of the Child of “The Smile of the Child’s” European Student Volunteer Network YouSmile spoke about the phenomenon, expressed and exchanged ideas and views, with the aim of addressing an appeal to adults, parents, guardians, teachers and the greater community, so that we all stand firm against bullying.

In order to send a loud message regarding the fight against bullying, YouSmile’s children and schools across Greece united their voices to call on adults to take responsibility by finding solutions, but also on their peers to defeat fear and break the silence.  Never again! was the phrase that came out of all children’s mouth, prompted by the video under the same title that was made on the same day that the 15-year-old student in Argyroupoli was gone.

The President of the BoD of “The Smile of the Child”, Mr. Costas Yannopoulos, reacted immediately to their appeal. “The floor NOW to children!  We at “The Smile” are tired of talking, words are no longer enough, we urgently need actions.  Today we give the floor to children so that they can be heard, so that they can say what they believe, so that they can act in their own unique way against the horror of bullying. Children are going through hard times, and whether they find themselves in a position of receiving or causing violence, we should not forget that they all need help”, Mr. Yannopoulos said, adding: “We at “The Smile” are against making laws more and more strict, in order to punish and stigmatize children in a penal manner.  That is why we stand next to children on a preventive, counseling as well as therapeutic level.  Let’s accept the fact that children have their own voice, and let’s listen to them, let’s observe them, let’s reinforce them so that they can become the adults who will make our society  better.”

At the closing of the meeting, works of students from all over Greece, who with the central slogan “Speak now” presented in an imaginative and creative way their messages on bullying, were showcased.  The specific action took place for the 6^th year in a row, in cooperation with the Coordinators of Educational Action.  This year more than 150 schools and over 5.000 students of all educational levels participated.  All works are showcased at https://milatora.gr/schools/

“The Smile of the Child”, holding the Presidency of the European Antibullying Network (EAN), offers all its services at the disposal of children, parents and guardians and the entire school community in Greece, and develops actions and tools on the level of prevention, but also intervention and therapy for every child involved in bullying incidents. In 2018, interactive sessions for prevention on the subject of bullying were carried out for 14.735 students, 2.483 parents and guardians and 333 teachers in the framework of visits to schools throughout Greece, while the European Helpline for Children and Adolescents 116111 offered counseling support to 447 children who called on issues related to bullying.

Moreover, since 2014 “The Smile of the Child” operates the pioneer Day Center “House of the Child” in Greece, which offers therapeutic services to children involved in bullying incidents.

On the occasion of the 6^th of March, National Antibullying Day, “The Smile of the Child” is organizing the Week of Awareness-raising and Mobilization of students, parents and teachers on the phenomenon, from Monday 4 March to Sunday 10 March.

The Week comprises:

●Communication material of the SPEAK NOW campaign

-On YouTube: https://youtu.be/izomjw2etu0
-On Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/hamogelo.org/videos/272704753644849/

-On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bun0eEtIkVP/

-OnTwitter: https://twitter.com/hamogelo/status/970656216761425926  
You can share on your social media with the hashtag #MilaTora #StopBullying milatora.gr

● Messages of students from schools in Greece

With the central slogan SPEAK NOW schools from all over Greece participate and create the message in their own unique way.  Actions are showcased through the social media of the Organization.  View the children’s work https://milatora.gr/schools/
 

●Interactive sessions of prevention for students, teachers and parents

In parallel, psychologists of the Organization carry out interactive sessions for students (as they do throughout the entire year) based on the social story of a child victim of bullying.  It is worth mentioning that, recognizing the critical role of the school community in prevention, “The Smile of the Child’s” specialized psychologists carry out organized interactive and experiential actions addressed to students, teachers, parents and guardians. This action is being implemented since 2009 in the framework of the recently renewed Cooperation Agreement with the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs, and in cooperation with the Coordinators of Educational Action, the Health Education Coordinators, the Prefectures and the Municipalities.