Bullism” Partners’ meeting Võru,Estonia 14 th - 15 th October 2010 Partners’ meeting Bullism” Project Estonia Oct DIA-SPORT Association BULGARIA

Partners project : Bulgaria- DIA- SPORT Association Italy -Prhomos association Estonia -Estonian Survival Society Turkey - Menderes İlce Milli Eğitim Mudurluğu Partners’ meeting Bullism” Project Estonia Oct Association BULGARIA

STUDENTS’ WORKSHOP The idea of carrying out a workshop on bullism was welcomed with a great interest among the children. As a whole they all knew what will be the concrete subject that we were going to discuss and all of them were already prepared with some qualitative information. In respect of workshop’s atmosphere all participants communicated in a calm and friendly environment where each one of them was able to express his/her opinion, hopes and fears. Partners’ meeting Bullism” Project Estonia Oct Association BULGARIA

STUDENTS’ WORKSHOP What can be said for certain is that every single child and the group as a whole wants something to be done either from the Bulgarian state bodies or from the families/respectively parents/ considered as the inner, inseparable part of each community. And this something according to students should not be only a temporary measure but a continuous permanent policy toward combating bullism in all its forms. Partners’ meeting Bullism” Project Estonia Oct DIA-SPORT Association BULGARIA

STUDENTS’ WORKSHOP Partners’ meeting Bullism” Project Estonia Oct DIA-SPORT Association BULGARIA

What students shared with us : According to student’s opinion the major problem is not only the violence, displayed in our schools, but also the family environment. In the home where you are supposed to feel safe could be your biggest problem – confessed the child. Thirteen years old girl defines her school as a hell. According to her every break is a complete mess in the classroom: her classmates are throwing the sponge, the basket on each other. They are chasing each other, fighting with their rucksack and so on. There is even one boy displaying a sexual harassment by running his fingers over the girls. Other is always offending them and manifesting an aggressive behavior. Partners’ meeting Bullism” Project Estonia Oct DIA-SPORT Association BULGARIA

In Anelia’s opinion the guilty ones are the media and sometimes even the music. Respecting the music this girl is judging on herself, because according to her words she is listening to a very brutal music and sometimes she is noticing the negative effect on her. Didi shared with us that she had encountered violence in her school very often. In her opinion it has mostly a negative influence on the youngest children who are experiencing aggressive behavior more heavily that the oldest one. She also added that violence’s result is not only the physical pain, but also the humiliation that a child experiences in front of other people. Partners’ meeting Bullism” Project Estonia Oct DIA-SPORT Association BULGARIA

Another student explained in front of the audience that he had been a witness of violence many times. He spoke about a classmate who is more reserved and because of that he is taking constantly offends only because he is in contrast to the others boys. Moreover, because this boy is keeping quiet and not paying back with the same coin the other classmates are keeping punching and humiliating him. According to Ivan the community has to muse upon the theory that not the school environment is the reason for the children’s aggressive behavior, but the parents’ control. In his opinion the Bulgarian school needs multitude reforms because nobody wants to study in the delusion where every problem is handled by physical stress. Partners’ meeting Bullism” Project Estonia Oct Association BULGARIA

STUDENT’S WORKSHOP Partners’ meeting Bullism” Project Estonia Oct Association BULGARIA

ADULTS’ WORKSHOP The international problem concerning all manifestations of bullism was of a great interest for the interviewed teachers, trainers and parents. As a whole this target group displays a significant concern on the matter. According to teachers, trainers and parents, living in the 21st century Bulgarian and European reality, the population is becoming an active witness of the school aggression. With every single day the reports and articles consisting materials connected with the violent behavior between teenagers is increasing. Partners’ meeting Bullism” Project Estonia Oct DIA-SPORT Association BULGARIA

ADULTS’ WORKSHOP Partners’ meeting Bullism” Project Estonia Oct DIA-SPORT Association BULGARIA

ADULTS’ WORKSHOP The topic which the workshop affected was the idea for the successful fighting against the bullism’s acts. All participants were asked to share their idea for handling the problem and saving children’s personality at this crucial age. Almost 80% of the interviewed united on the idea of organizing and implementing discussions, meeting or seminars in which parents, teachers, trainers and children will be acquainted with the seriousness of this problem. Partners’ meeting Bullism” Project Estonia Oct DIA-SPORT Association BULGARIA

ADULTS’ WORKSHOP Moreover, participants shared the idea that the profile of the bullism and cyber-bullism victims and violators is similar and, as has already been mentioned, the seriousness of the problem is caused by the wrong upbringing, the lack of attention and the outside influence. The places where children can become a cyber-bullism victims are mostly the cyber games, the social networks and not at last – the media displaying constantly violence. According to the participants, the main reason for the appearance of violators in the cyber space is the free and anonymous on- line communication where the virtual reality gives you the opportunity to hide your identity and present yourself under different profile. Partners’ meeting Bullism” Project Estonia Oct DIA-SPORT Association BULGARIA

ADULTS’ WORKSHOP Partners’ meeting Bullism” Project Estonia Oct DIA-SPORT Association BULGARIA

DISSEMINATION: INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN SOFIA x Partners’ meeting Bullism” Project Estonia Oct DIA-SPORT Association BULGARIA

In what activity are we working presently? Following the situation connected with Bullism in BG schools; Implementation of the project web-site /on the web-site of DIA-SPORT Association/; Dissemination of the project /via a leaflet, developed by DS both in EN and in BG languages/; Organisation of a local workshop (involving local schools’ teachers and other participants/parents, adults) Partners’ meeting Bullism” Project Estonia Oct DIA-SPORT Association BULGARIA

Forthcoming activities: Meetings with students from Secondary and High school Communication and exchange of experience on Bullism and Cyber-Bullism in Bulgarian schools with partner organizations (e.g. parents association, National for safe net center) Dissemination activities during meetings with other EU project partners Partners’ meeting Bullism” Project Estonia Oct Association BULGARIA