CIVIL SOCIETY: 45 PRACTICES
"The Smile of the Child" has supported more than 1,200,000 children and their families. Children victims of all forms of Violence, Children victims of Extinction, Children with health problems, Children who are or are threatened with poverty, have found a solution.
The short film "THE THOUGHTS OF NEPHELES" is based on real incidents of Domestic Violence that have been reported to the National SOS Line for Children 1056 of "The Smile of the Child", by students who have experienced Bullying and who have tried to do something about it, to talk about it, to turn to an adult so that they stop feeling alone. Pain, fear and shame are the dominant emotions for children who experience the harsh reality of bullying.
The aim of the film is first of all to acknowledge all of us, these emotions and to increase our empathy and the support we need to give them.
At the same time, through the film, all those involved in the phenomenon of bullying are motivated to speak out as it is the first step to finding a solution.
Finally, another solution is provided through the communication of those involved with the National SOS 1056 Line for Children of "The Smile of the Child" and Chat1056.
The project started in January 2023 with the conception of the idea and the writing of the script, the shooting took place in April 2023 and the first screening took place in May 2023.
Bullying phenomena are steadily increasing in Greek society, and are becoming more and more severe.
"The Smile of the Child", through the Center for Violence and Bullying that it has established, is constantly monitoring the phenomenon and its characteristics.
Among the services and actions implemented by the Center, a specialized team of Psychologists manages daily bullying incidents through communication to the National Line for Children SOS1056 as well as through the interactive interventions carried out by the team nationwide in schools of primary and secondary education. Recipients of the interventions are all those involved in the phenomenon, in particular pupils, students, teachers, parents and guardians.
In addition, "The Smile of the Child", through the Centre for Violence and Bullying, has an active participation in international organisations active in this field at the level of prevention and intervention and also chairs the Board of Directors of the European Antibullying Network, based in Brussels, which has 22 members (civil society, organisations, public bodies and schools) from 14 European countries.
It is worth noting that:
in a recent survey conducted nationwide by "The Smile of the Child", 1 in 3 children (35.5%) across the country, in the school year 2023-2024, states that they have been bullied and 1 in 4 children (26.6%), nationally, across all school grades, states that they feel that the school does not teach them not to bully their classmates
the Agency in 2023 provided 1 counseling session every 2 days for bullying to children
in 2023 the Agency provided interactive prevention and awareness interventions to 29,675 students, 3,234 parents and guardians, 1,583 teachers, recording a 47% increase in the number of students participating in similar interventions in 2022.
It is noted that "The Smile of the Child" has concluded a Cooperation Agreement with the competent Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports and an additional specific Agreement, also with the Ministry, on bullying.
Given all of the above, "The Smile of the Child" considered it extremely important to create an original short film on bullying. The film "Nephel's Thoughts" was based on actual incidents of Domestic Violence handled by the organization.
Finally, the film is used as an educational tool for the school community. By holding screenings for schoolchildren in central cinema halls all over Greece, we created the conditions to start an open discussion with the children with the first aim to listen to what they have to say. These screenings were always accompanied by specialized psychologists of the Organization who interacted with the children and gave them the necessary directions and advice to stop the phenomenon of bullying. In addition, the film is shown in schools nationwide as part of interventions on bullying.
Summary of the film:
Nefeli is 16 years old, she lives in Athens with her mother who loves her very much, she is a high school student and lives a normal reality of a child her age, or at least it seems so... In the last months of her life she has changed, she is less talkative, more withdrawn, she doesn't sleep at night, she has stopped eating and the doctors can't find out what's wrong with her. She spends most of her time alone, locked in her room. For company she has only her thoughts and feelings... The protagonists in her life are all the things she feels, they drive her actions. Will Nefeli's thoughts lead her to the end of her story or to the beginning?
Watch the film:
https://youtu.be/B8dPtmaVDro?si=dPnUjaWI8-TDoBVY
Related reports:
https://youtu.be/XvSVFBrF4cs?si=tdhLuc9tJkJ6LkEL
https://youtu.be/XRA5nCnyQaw?si=giXnl-C4sQpvDeXV
https://youtu.be/6Laqe03x1ws?si=RyIfGKHDQ-XdR2HM
More about the screenings of the film nationwide:
https://www.hamogelo.gr/gr/el/ta-nea-mas/skepseis-nefeli-syfak-krhths/
https://www.hamogelo.gr/gr/el/ta-nea-mas/village-cinemas-nefelh-athina-thessalonikh-larissa/
https://www.hamogelo.gr/gr/el/ta-nea-mas/masouths-patra-oi-skepseis-ths-nefelhs/
https://www.hamogelo.gr/gr/el/ta-nea-mas/skepseis-ths-nefelhs-lamia/
https://www.hamogelo.gr/gr/el/ta-nea-mas/nefelh-tainia-mikroy-mhkous-xalkida-oi-skepseis-ths-nefelhs/
https://www.hamogelo.gr/gr/el/ta-nea-mas/provolh-tainia-mikroy-mhkoys-oi-skepseis-tis-nefelhs-eurytania/]
https://www.hamogelo.gr/gr/el/ta-nea-mas/oi-skepseis-ths-nefelhs-paroysiash-politistiko-kentro-dhmou-athina
Nationwide
For the production of the film, the participation of PSDM Athens, the largest community of young influencers on social issues (such as racism, drugs, children's rights, etc.) and its founder Vangelis Nakis was requested.
The film's cast and crew:
A film by "The Smile of the Child" in collaboration with Vangelis Nakis and PSDM Athens - Directed by. Editing by Dannis Darlas - Script by Nikos Giannopoulos - Script editing - Scientific staff from "The Smile of the Child" - Production by "The Smile of the Child" - Production management Nikos Giannopoulos Sophia Thodou Tzorgina Tsanga - The roles were performed by Nefeli: Areti Garipi Students: Fanis Efstathiou Bilina Kolotou Zenia Kontogeorgis Niki Kouka Dimitris Lazaridis Michalis Miseyannis Nelly Xoxakou Philippos Pournaras Margarita Stadler Mother Nefeli: Xenia Alexiou - Camera Assistant Marios Tsulhai - Photography Mili Sulovari
The project involved first of all the specialised scientific team of Psychologists of the Centre for Violence and Bullying of the Agency, resource and communication workers and volunteers.
