HAMOGELO PAIDIOU

The Center for Violence and Bullying at the organization "The Smile of the Child" designs and implements initiatives and provides services aimed at preventing, managing, and combating this issue. Our key message: SPEAK UP NOW—we are here for you!

The Center’s services are primarily aimed at students, teachers, parents, and guardians, as well as the general public.

Consistently, throughout the year

According to a nationwide survey conducted by “The Smile of the Child”:

1.     1 in 3 children across the country reports having been bullied
2.     1 in 3 children who report spending many hours a day in front of screens experiences school bullying
3.     1 in 4 children feels that school does not teach them not to bully their classmates
4.     100% of children would prefer to seek help via a helpline, choosing the organization’s National SOS Helpline 1056

Given the above:

“The Smile of the Child,” recognizing the immense need and listening to the needs of society, has established and operates a specialized Center for Violence and School Bullying.

The goal of all actions and services provided by the Center for Violence and School Bullying is the holistic management of the phenomenon, starting with prevention and moving on to the management of each incident, as well as informing and raising public awareness, supporting the school community, implementing educational programs, etc.

The actions and services provided by the Center for Violence and School Bullying.

1. Interactive prevention and awareness-raising activities in schools for students, teachers, parents, and guardians. The topics focus on bullying and violence among minors. §Counseling support (by phone or in person) from a specialized team of psychologists for children, parents, and teachers, via the European Helpline 116111.
2. Counseling support via the CHAT1056 app, an innovative platform that offers children the ability to communicate directly with specialists.
3. Management of incidents of violence by a specialized team of psychologists and social workers via the National SOS Helpline 1056.
4. Provision of immediate support to children and parents involved in incidents of violence, with on-the-spot guidance and advice.
5. Psychotherapeutic services for children exposed to violence, and support for their families through the multidisciplinary therapeutic Day Center "The Child’s Home."
6. Educational seminars for parents, educators, and professionals in the field of child protection, organized by the Organization’s Smile Academy of Education and Training.

The above services are provided nationwide, free of charge, and are accessible to everyone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Specifically regarding interactive prevention and awareness interventions in schools for students, teachers, parents, and guardians.

Specialized experts from the Center for Violence and School Bullying conduct interactive prevention and awareness-raising sessions free of charge throughout Greece for students, teachers, parents, and guardians, both in person and online through synchronous training.

The main objectives of these interventions are:

1.     to educate children on how to defend their rights
2.     to develop basic social skills to address bullying

The primary goal of these interventions, explained in simple and understandable terms for children, is:

1.     Recognizing the signs of bullying
2.     Gaining a substantive understanding of the issue at hand
3.     Managing the emotions it provokes
4.     Developing basic coping strategies / a shield against the risks
5.     Learning about available sources of help and support

Based on the participants’ ages, psychologists select the appropriate tools, which are:

Social Stories, Fairy Tales, European cross-media, interactive educational tools, puppet theater, shadow theater, documentaries, and in every case, the programs are tailored to the children’s developmental stage and emotional maturity.

Partnerships in Greece

These initiatives and services are implemented under the Organization’s Cooperation Agreements with the Ministry of Education, Religion, and Sports, and in collaboration with educational project coordinators, Health Education Officers, Regional Authorities, and Municipalities, as well as more broadly with the community and school support structures under the Ministry’s auspices.

International Collaborations

“The Smile of the Child” leads international efforts to recognize, prevent, and address the phenomenon, including, among other things, holding the presidency of the Board of Directors of the European Anti-Bullying Network (European Antibullying Network – EAN) since 2014, which includes 22 members from 14 European countries.

The Center is staffed by qualified psychologists and social workers who are employees of the Organization.

The Center’s services are provided nationwide, free of charge, and are available to everyone 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

In particular, interactive prevention and awareness-raising interventions in schools for students, teachers, parents, and guardians are provided both in person at schools and remotely.

In 2025, through the Center:

Handling of 253 incidents of school violence and bullying

Reports regarding 18 children submitted to Cybertipline Hellas (https://www.hamogelo.gr/gr/el/paidia-thimata-vias:cyber-tipline/) concerning incidents of cyberbullying.

Interactive prevention interventions for:

1.     31,203 students
2.     1,833 parents and guardians
3.     1,453 educators
4.     123 professionals