Bullying. Zero Tolerance!
Two-day educational activities in cooperation with the Athens International Children’s Film Festival, the Smile of the Child & ARSIS
- Mandoulides Schools are organizing a two-day educational event with the theme: Bullying: Zero Tolerance! from October 10th to 11th, 2024, on the occasion of the International Non Violence Day (02/10).
This event is aimed at students of all grade levels and is being held in collaboration with the Athens International Children’s Film Festival, the Smile of the Child & ARSIS.
The program includes film screenings, discussions, interactive games with experts, book presentations, and workshops for both children and educators.
The goal is to use art (cinema, literature, visual arts) and experiential activities to help students and educators approach the social phenomenon of juvenile delinquency and school bullying, an issue that has affected many countries across Europe and America for years and has recently taken on alarming proportions in our country over the past fifteen years.
According to relevant studies conducted in primary and secondary schools in Greece:
- Approximately 10% of all students are victims of aggressive harassment by their peers or children of different ages.
- The percentage of perpetrators is around 5% of the student population.
- The ratio of boys to girls in violent incidents is 3 to 1, with boys predominating in cases of physical violence and girls more involved in verbal incidents.
The consequences are very serious for the students’ future lives and may include:
- Low self-esteem
- Insecurity
- Fear
- Inability to confront others
- Social isolation
- Introversion
- Behavioral disorders
- Psychosomatic problems
- Learning difficulties
The school is called upon to take on a supportive and creative role. This role is to instill in students the principles of cooperation, mutual respect, equality, solidarity, justice, and acceptance of diversity. Schools should educate students in a way that allows all members of the school community to coexist harmoniously.
Program
Thursday, October 10th, 2024
10:00 – 11:30 (4th – 6th grade) & 12:00 – 13:30 (7th, 8th & 10th grade)
Film Screening of The Thoughts of Nephele by The Smile of the Child- Discussion with Mr. Ioannis Koziakis, Psychologist M. Sc, MBA, PhDc and Ms. Olga Zikopoulou, Psychologist, Certified in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Doctor of UOM (University of Macedonia).
The goal of the film is to portray the experiences of a child facing violence in the school environment. Depicting the emotional state of the targeted child served as both the motivation for creating the film and as an interactive tool to initiate structured, open discussions with students.
By exploring the children’s experiences presented in the film, the aim is to promote the development of empathy and other social skills that enhance the harmonious coexistence within the social environment.
10:00 – 13:00 (9th grade)
Educational Interventions on Human Rights and Adolescent Relationships by the Association for the Social Support of Youth ARSIS
These interventions are experiential and are organized based on the methodology of the Compass and Compasito manuals, which are official resources from the Council of Europe for educating children and young people about human rights. Covering a wide range of topics, the activities help young people and students understand and adopt the values of human rights, encouraging them to advocate for their protection.
11:00 – 12:30 (1st – 3rd grade)
Discussion with the author Elena Artzanidou inspired by her book Hands Up (Psichogios Publications)
11:00 – 12:30 (Daycare Center- Kindergarten)
Visual arts activities and group games- Puppet Theater performed by the kindergarten teachers
Friday, October 11th, 2024
9:30 – 11:00 (5th, 6th & 7th grade)
Film Screening by the Athens International Children’s Film Festival
Film Schedule
- Everybody Else is Taken, 2017, New Zealand, 17’
- Mahalia Melts in the Rain, 2018, Canada, 12’
- #BullyingStory, 2018, Holland, 16’
11:45 – 13:15 (8th, 9th & 10th grade)
Film Screening in collaboration with the Athens International Children’s Film Festival
Film Program
- Camouflage, 2022, Holland, 16’
- Offside, 2022, Holland, 12’
- Malika, 2022, Holland, 29’
- Whales Don’t Swim, 2020, France, 22’
In the context of global cinema for children and adolescents, and under the guidance of Ms. Katia Papaspiliopoulou, Head of Educational Programs at the Athens International Children’s Film Festival, we explore the underlying causes of violence, seek explanations for the most inexplicable reactions, and rebuild our defenses.
Everyday life is filled with dangers and tensions. The program’s films skillfully illustrate how conflicts can be resolved without violence or toxicity, and how we can manage interpersonal relationships in a healthy, empathetic way.
13:45 – 15:00
Film Education Workshop for 9th and 10th-grade Students and Educators on School Bullying and Ways to Address the Issue
During the workshop, students will watch the film Whales Don’t Swim (2020, France, 22’) and then take part in group experiential activities. Educators will receive a teaching guide to help them implement the program in their classrooms.
15:00 – 16:30
Educators’ Training for 5th – 7th grade
A seminar for school educators led by Ms. Katia Papaspiliopoulou, Head of Educational Programs at the Athens International Children’s Film Festival, titled School Bullying: How Film Education Becomes a Tool for Addressing the Issue.
During the seminar, educators will watch the film Everybody Else is Taken (2017, New Zealand, 17’) and then participate in an interactive presentation on methodology, including classroom simulations, group activities, role-playing, and connections to the national curriculum.
Educators will receive a teaching guide to help them implement the program in their classrooms.
