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 3443179pkarkaletsi@minedu.gov.gr

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.

pdf

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION The ultimate goal…