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Project number: 2019-1-PL01-KA201-065722

There is another positive side to empowerment. Bullying victims, more often than not,
feel lonely, abandoned and ignored – in addition to the cascade of negative feelings
induced by the bullying act(s). It is often reported that, even when telling adult about

the incidents, no measure against the bullies is taken. This results in an overwhelming
feeling of solitude and abandonment for the victim.

By empowering the victims, we not only deter the bullies from continuing their

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aggressive acts, but we also provide comfort and emotional support to the bullying
victims. This helps them feel less alone and, in turn, helps heal the psychological
trauma.

Also, by taking a stand, we help eliminate the bystander effect from the equation (the
paralyzing uncertainty plaguing bullying bystanders, which prevents them from

intervening because they rely on the fact that someone else will come to help). The
other bystanders will follow the example and come to aid, discouraging the bully /
bullies from perpetuating their violent act.

The importance of treating children as experts lies in a number of reasons, which will
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be detailed down below. These conclusions stem from years of research on the topic

of bullying, backed by the findings of the current project’s activities involving children.

First and foremost, treating children as experts provides a sense of empowerment to

them. The details of the importance of this aspect are mentioned above.

Second, treating children as experts brings students, teachers and parents together and
provides an invaluable opportunity to learn from the younger generations. This flips

the sides and turns the students into information providers and the teachers and
parents into learners and observers. This helps the older generations keep up with:

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- the reasons behind bullying acts and the victims’ reactions to them. As time
progresses, technology, society and rules change, and so do the reasons behind
bullying. It is safe to say that the reasons do not change drastically over the course of

just a few years, but when we are thinking of generational differences, we need to pay
attention to the continuously developing sense and need for affirmation of the young
people, including bullying and bullying-related issues.

- the forms and varieties of bullying. Just like in the case of the above subtopic, parents
and teachers need to be up-to-date with technology and all the other aspects involved

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