P L A “ PA R T I C I PAT I O N O F Y O U N G P E O P L E W I T H M E N T A L H E A LT H I S S U E S ”H E L S I N K I , 7 - 9 J U N E 2 0 1 7
Panayiota Karkaletsi
M.Ed. TESOL, M.Ed. Education Policy
T. +30 210 [email protected]
European Union Unit
Directorate for European & International
Affairs
Peer-to-peer Education
through the Comenius Regio Program
“Bullying Among Adolescents: Prevention and
Treatment in the School Environment of Greece &
Cyprus”
OUTLINEComenius Regio European Program: 2013 – 2015: Context
Goal
Objectives
Methodology
Peer-to-peer Education Pilot Program: Context
Training
Added Value
Cross-sectoral Approach
Guide of Best Practices
CONTEXT
“Bullying Among Adolescents: Prevention and Treatment in the School Environment of Greece and Cyprus” implementation period: September, 2013-September, 2015
The 2nd Directorate of Secondary Education in Athens in collaboration with the Provincial Office of Middle School Education in Paphos
The project addressed the phenomenon of school bullying focusing on prevention & treatment
The Comenius Regio European Program is a
systematic and targeted effort to create a
strong core of partner organizations, with
the goal of improving the quality of our
children's life
Comenius Regio European Program, 2013 – 2015
GOAL
Enable adolescents
a. to get to know, accept and believe in themselves, and
b. to formulate a life attitude which promotes their physical and psycho-emotional
health
The target of the Program was aimed at:
a. The knowledge, which is necessary for adolescents to have in order for them to manage and resolve problems related to school bullying
b. The participation, through which a sense of responsibility and directness in the discussion of bullying problems, and the involvement of adolescent students at an individual or collective level for resolving such problems, is advocated
c. The change of the way of thinking of adolescents, through the message of peer-to-peer, and the maintenance of this new philosophy in all areas and aspects of life
Comenius Regio European Program, 2013 – 2015
OBJECTIVES
Comenius Regio European Program, 2013 – 2015
1. The recording of the phenomenon of school bullying
2. The investigation of reasons for the phenomenon
3. The use of best practices for the prevention and treatment of school violence
4. The establishment of a network in order to promote a dialogue framework to ensure cooperation, exchange of ideas-experiences, events’ organisation against bullying and violence at school
5. The overall improvement of the quality of school life through the cooperation of the entire school community promoting peaceful relations, awareness and vigilance
METHODOLOGY
Comenius Regio European Program, 2013 – 2015
On a practical level, the approach included (among others):
A. “Peer-to-peer education” (Equal Education) with the purpose of carrying out activities and developing students’ skills so that they are not only able to refuse to participate in incidents of school bullying (and/or protect themselves from these incidents), but also to be able to advise/prompt "equals"/"peers"
B. Active participation in mediation groups on three levels: 1. General Mediation 2. Mediation in the Group and 3. Mediation at the Individual Level
The approach followed focused on the
cooperation and assistance of entities
to a level of making the system
functional
School bullying was studied in the
spectrum of interaction among social
systems (family - school - wider
society)
The stakeholders adopted a
holistic/eco-systematic approach as
a point of reference of their practices
and interventions
PEER-TO-PEER EDUCATION PILOT PROGRAM: CONTEXT• Within the framework of the Program a
pilot project program was created, in
which 240 student-mentors took part and
were trained on how to alert their peers
on issues related to School and Cyber
Bullying
• The student-mentors were trained to
operate as mediators, conciliators and
multipliers to their peers
TRAINING
During the training meetings student-mentors were involved in:
Brainstorming Activities, Group Work, Plenary Discussions, Artwork, Use of Symbolism, Experiential Activities, Reflection Sessions, Examination of Case Studies, Design and Circulation of Questionnaires
Comenius Regio mentors were trained to approach their own code of human values, and concluded that "knowing yourself better" can act collectively via sensitizing Public opinion and
especially peers
Student-mentor groups worked together to strengthen their peers, strengthen social and emotional skills and make their own decisions on how to resolve their differences in the school and
online environment
After the training sessions, the student-mentors organized campaigns and informative events at schools (posters, songs, festivals) and interacted with the wider school community
Peer-to-peer education pilot program
ADDED VALUE
Groups of School Support & Solidaritywere established in the school-mentors’ schools which offer support, guidance and fellowship to their peers who need to deal with issues related to bullying
Mentors from the schools that were selected as a best practice were asked to participate in Enable
http://www.youth-life.gr/el/enable-gr/en/enable-gr/123-enable-comenius-regio-gr
European Programhttp://enable.eun.org/
ENABLE (European Network Against Bullying in Learning and Leisure Environments) aims to tackle bullying in a holistic way, helping young people exercise their fundamental rights in the home, school, class and community (i.e. peer group)
Peer-to-peer education pilot program
CROSS-SECTORAL APPROACH
The whole effort was scientifically supported by The Adolescent Health Care Unit of the Second Department of Pediatrics, “P&A Kyriakou” Children's’ Hospital
http://youth-health.gr
Peer-to-peer education pilot program
COMENIUS REGIO EUROPEAN PROGRAM: 2013 – 2015/ GUIDE OF BEST PRACTICES
Detailed Information is included in the following
Guide
http://srv3-dide-v-ath.att.sch.gr/com-
regio/all_docs/ellada/Odigos/odigos_metafrasi.p
df
http://srv3-dide-v-ath.att.sch.gr/com-
regio/all_docs/ellada/ereynes/entheto_metafrasi.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION The ultimate goal…