Despite the current efforts in national and European level, bullying appears to be an escalating challenge. According to Beat Bullying, recent studies have shown that:

• 70% of young people have experienced some form of bullying.
• One million children are bullied every week, inside and outside of school.
• Bullying is the biggest concern for children as they grow up.
• At least 20 children every year commit suicide because they are being – or have been – bullied.

The effects of school bullying on children’s stress levels, depressive tendencies, and self-concept are a barrier to their learning and development, as well as their active integration and participation in the school environment. There remains a need for a comprehensive ‘whole-school’ framework which explores the origins of bullying, its effects in and beyond the school-life of the child, and subsequent policies and procedures for its detection and eradication.

A consortium of seven partners from different European countries, recognizing the importance of combating bullying in schools, launched the Project ComBuS (Combat Bullying: A Whole School Program). The central aim of the ComBuS is to increase the capacity and raise awareness in combating bullying among students, teachers, school staff, school leaders and parents, by providing them face-to-face, online and mobile methodologies, tools and activities. The Project is funded by the European Commission and will run for 24 months (October 2015 – September 2017). As the Project leader, CARDET is responsible for the project’s management and coordination, as well as the monitoring and assessment of the implementation process.

Objectives:

1. Conduct literature review and analysis of the needs of students, teachers, school staff, school leaders and parents in 6 European countries
2. Build a participatory, whole school program (ComBuS Toolkit) that will engage students, teachers, school staff, school leaders and parents in fighting bullying using blended (face-to-face, online and mobile) methodologies, tools and activities.
3. Implement the program in at least 2 schools for each of the chosen 6 European countries
4. Disseminate the model widely in the EU

The Toolkit will consist of:

• ComBuS Online Platform and Digital Tools
• ComBuS Mobile Application
• Blended Learning Modules for School Leaders, Teachers, School Staff and Parents
• Experiential Workshops for Students
• Peer to Peer Support Guidelines
• ComBuS In Class Activities
• Reading Against Bullying
• Material for thematic school days
• ComBuS Evaluation Rubrics
• ComBuS Implementation Guidelines
• Localization and adaptation in national contexts

Project coordinator:

CARDET, Cyprus

Project partners:

ITC, Spain; UPIT & GIE, Romania; KMOP, Greece; FORIUM, Italy; and MCRSDP, Ireland.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. Project Number:JUST/2014/RDAP/AG/BULL/7698