Stopping Bullying Together: Let’s Be kind, respectful and Break the Chains

By: Sarah Gumush & Naufal Farah Azizah

Introduction: Ever wondered why bullying happens so much in schools? The truth is one out of every three people aged 13-15 experiences bullying around the world. It’s a big problem that affects people of all ages and backgrounds. Lately, people are talking more about how bad bullying is, especially in schools. We all need to come together as a society to say no to bullying and cyberbullying. We want to create a world where everyone feels respected and included.

The school visit: On 23rd November 2023, a guest speaker came to SMP Negeri 5 Depok (junior high school) to talk about bullying and give students some encouragement. The students got involved and discussed how to stop bullying from happening. Surprisingly, when the speaker shared facts about cyberbullying in Yogyakarta, the students weren’t very surprised. The reaction brought more attention to the guest speaker.

Understanding the Impact: The talk went deeper into how cyberbullying is more than just teasing; it leaves lasting emotional scars on its victims. They talked about how the online world can make people feel sadder than the real world. They also discussed the serious consequences of bullying, like how it can affect mental health, school performance, and make it hard to socialise. Recognising how much bullying can hurt people is the first step to the solution.

The Role of Schools: The Schools are really important in shaping students’ experiences. They need to do more than just have rules against bullying. They should actively work to stop bullying by teaching students about empathy and making it safe for them to report bullying. The speaker told the students about the Finnish KiVa anti-bullying programme, which has a strong no-bullying policy—you can find out more at https://www.kivaprogram.net. The speaker also said that students’ ideas are essential because they know what’s happening inside the schools with bullying e.g., who’s the bully and who’s getting bullied. Parents are important too, and schools should work closely with them to share information. They should think about students’ behaviour and social life from school and home.

Cyber-bullying Awareness and Positive Vibes: In today’s digital world, cyberbullying happens a lot. Schools and parents should teach students how to use the internet responsibly and explain what happens if they bully online. Encouraging good online behaviour and making sure everyone is polite online can help stop the bad effects of cyberbullying.

Conclusion Stopping bullying needs everyone—schools, parents, and communities—to work together. By breaking communication barriers between students and teachers or parents and implementing programs similar to KiVa. By being kind, including everyone, and standing up against bullying, we can create a place where everyone feels valued and respected. Let’s build a future without bullying, where everyone is understanding, friendly and embraces the differences.