Finland Shares Her Idea To End Bullying
Finland, for example, has been able to reduce bullying through the KiVa program. This idea has now been shared with the whole world because it has produced great results in schools across the country.
The program stands out because it wants to perform actions beyond the pursued or the pursuer. For your proposal, the main concern is bullying as such.
To combat bullying, the system would entail a global project that was entrusted to researchers at the University of Turku, specialists in children’s behavior.
To strengthen the anti-bullying program, the role of witnesses to bullying was considered, people who belong to the school community and, in large part, support silently, without being harassed or persecuted.
Generally, the rest of the school population is silent accomplice. This is as worrisome as the fact itself.
Unfortunately, the situation becomes more and more normal and, in a way, it is supported by the majority. People who for some reason decide not to act or not to speak.
How does the program against bullying work?
The anti-bullying program, conceived and shared by Finland, began to be implemented in 2007 with the support of that country’s government.
The idea reached educational centers to fight a common problem among students. The its purpose was to influence the school community through the besieged, whose new attitude tries to win the support of the majority.
A group is capable of making big changes when working towards the same goal. Therefore, witnesses of the harassment can unite and support correct behavior, in which case the victim gains their sympathy.
The KiVa method is developed through a series of formations that take place at different stages. First at age seven, then at age ten, and later at age thirteen. This is to ensure that children learn to differentiate between different types of bullying.
Once children can understand the ways in which bullying presents itself, they can apply the coping methods learned at each stage.
Lessons on the subject are constant during the school term. Thus, the values that promote empathy among children are highlighted. This action is supported by educational programs, incorporating visual and playful techniques.
Tolerance to defeat bullying
The Finnish government has supported the KiVa program because its results are evident.
Since being introduced into the country’s education system, the program has managed to reduce bullying by at least 79%.
Currently, centers that have joined the program are experiencing an almost complete disappearance of bullying.
In addition to eliminating the adjectives “persecutors” and “persecuted” from the start, the program also identified the core of the problem.
Later, the work extended its reach and managed to improve students’ motivation, well-being and communication. These, at the same time, also received the benefit of reducing levels of stress and depression.
In turn, the victim is usually not transformed into a new person. All it takes is for the group to accept it as it is and support it in the face of any sign of bullying.
In this regard, KiVa is also able to promote the confidence, self-esteem and personality of each individual. These, in turn, become more open to being themselves, without fear of feeling vulnerable to provocation.
Due to the surprising results, the idea has been taken to other countries.
In the first year of activity, it was received by countries such as the United States, France, United Kingdom, Sweden and Italy, among others.
Positive results have also been visible in centers that are beginning to incorporate the program around the world, managing to reduce cases of bullying by more than 35%.
