The aim was to create a safe learning environment in which every student feels respected and protected, to raise awareness of peer bullying among students, teachers, and parents, to strengthen social and emotional skills such as empathy, stress and conflict management, as well as positive thinking, and to provide participants with alternative courses of action so that both victims and perpetrators can find constructive ways out of conflicts. In particular, victims should feel that they have access to safe points of contact when needed. Raising students’ awareness was also a key objective.
We initiated the project “Don’t Bully Be Happy” because peer bullying continues to be a serious problem at our partner schools. Increasing numbers of bullying cases, along with related learning and health issues, have been reported at these schools. The project aimed to establish ongoing preventive awareness and intervention measures that improve both the school climate and students’ social skills. Through transnational cooperation, we sought to bring together best-practice approaches from four countries and establish a sustainable network to combat bullying.