Description
The project addresses the common instances of aggressive behavior, bullying and hate speech in Bulgarian schools. The project aims at reducing aggressive behavior of students in Lyaskovets Municipality, promoting tolerance and raising the awareness of all stakeholders (children, parents and teachers). First, children will be selected and trained to be Tolerance Ambassadors among their peers. Second, a Tolerance Corner will be created in Ts. Ginchev Primary School in Lyaskovets. Third, local children will be taught tolerance in group work with a psychologist and interactive trainings (roleplay, games, brainstorming). Next, teachers and parents will be taught to recognize and deal with aggressive behavior in children in group and individual sessions. The project will benefit children, parents, teachers and the local community in Lyaskovets Municipality. The partner will help with providing the premises for the project and ensuring the project’s sustainability.
Summary of project results
Ethnic, social, religious and gender differences provoke aggression among children. In many cases verbal aggression often goes out of control. Teachers and educators are not always able to deal with aggression in school and they need external support. Intolerance among children was the main issue addressed by the project. The project aimed at raising tolerance among pre-school and school students and awareness in parents that their children have problems with aggression. The psychologist and educator involved in the project activities achieved good understanding and excellent results with the students. However, they faced difficulties with the parents which prevented them from having better results. At first many of the parents were actively involved in the meetings. However, they gradually came forward with excuses and the meetings between the parents, teachers, the psychologist and the educator ceased to take place. The project impact on the children resulted in excellent performance. Many of them changed their behaviour for good. Tolerance improved among children as well as their behaviour at school towards their peers and teachers. As a result of the project a book was published with paintings about tolerance created by the children during the projects.
Summary of bilateral results