Creativity STOPS bullying

SCHOOL BULLYING PREVENTION CAMPAIGN - MY ILLUSTRATED STORY
Illustrated story of a teenager with hearing disabilities:

With a trusted friend you can feel safe

My name is Erika and I really like life a lot. I have friends, I get along well with my parents, I have good grades at school and I love horses.

But, for a few months a little problem worries me: a very nice girl transferred in my class. She is very clever and understanding, but she does not hear and sometimes her hearing aids seem not to work. This thing makes our friendship very complicated for that all colleagues are laughing at me that I'm staying with her and that I'm losing time "talking with the walls".

When such words are addressed to me, I am not feeling too good and I don't even want to make my new friend feel bad. I thought what I can do and I found the best solution. I told my mother everything that happens to me and my friend. My mother taught me how to ignore all these words and choose my friends as I feel, and this works for me. I encourage always my friend, I'm with her and I defend her from my ugly colleagues. With a trusted friend you can feel safe and we do together our life better.

Story 8 Story 8 Demetrius

SCHOOL BULLYING PREVENTION CAMPAIGN - MY ILLUSTRATED STORY
Illustrated story of a teenager with hearing disabilities:

When someone is laughing at you, it means that they also have problems and things that bother them

I'm Radu. I'm deaf. I am a 7th grade student. My colleagues are mean to me because I'm fat and I wear glasses. My mother always tells me to ignore them because that are not good for me, but I

can't ignore the jokes and the beatings for each I am a target every day. To my surprise, the majority of teachers don't say anything when they see that I'm being offended during breaks. I'm often told that I look like a four-eyed stove. The only teacher interested in these incidents is my English teacher. She always tells me that it's not good that I am not doing anything about it, which makes me happy because I realize that there are people who really care about me. She also told me that I should consult the school psychologist and tell him about the events that are happening to me. Because I didn't want to disappoint her, I went to a psychologist, where I realized that I shouldn't pay attention to people who hurt me. Why? They choose to ridicule me because they also have problems and things that bother them. I also understood that I don't have to listen to them and if I continue to do so, I will end up caring too much about the opinions of others, which is a negative thing anyway. After that visit to the school office, I treated the jokes that were addressed to me with different eyes. I am glad that I managed to get over this bullying situation that is very common in the world.

Story 4 Story 4 Demetrius

SCHOOL BULLYING PREVENTION CAMPAIGN - MY ILLUSTRATED STORY
Illustrated story of a teenager with hearing disabilities:

It is not just 'innocent' jokes.

During my school years, I was bullied, not physically but psychologically. I have never been a very boisterous girl; I am rather shy and quiet. I have always had physical and speech problems. Some people, two, started making fun of me, criticizing me, and calling me names. I don't remember exactly when it all started, but I know that the first problems started in sixth grade and ended in high school. There is no specific episode, it's more a collection of events.

I remember one episode of the first, which involved my former class even though they probably don't care. During a lesson, the teacher left the class for a while, and two of my classmates started throwing paper balls in my hair. After a while, the whole class started throwing pieces of paper at me while continuing to laugh.

I felt small, helpless, and couldn't do anything. Later, when the teacher returned to the classroom, everyone acted as if nothing had happened. The two boys who had started throwing pieces of paper at me never stopped. When I spoke, they laughed. These repeated events affected my way of life.

I had low self-esteem and feeling judged by people who knew nothing about me did not help. They made it seem to everyone that it was a game, but I doubt they ever realized the pain they were causing me. The teachers, although they witnessed the teasing, did nothing.

From my point of view, I was too afraid, not only of what might happen if I exposed myself but also of admitting what was happening because admitting something means it is really happening.

I completely lost my self-confidence and never regained it. I closed in on myself more and more, crying silently, not telling my family for fear of being judged. Even now I prefer that no one knows, not because I am ashamed, but because it is personal. I changed a lot, but for a while, I stopped smiling. I no longer wanted to leave the house. I was so afraid of people's judgment that I developed a fear of people themselves. Some people tried to help me, and I tried to go it alone.

But it is not easy.

2 Non si tratta solo di scherzi innocenti

SCHOOL BULLYING PREVENTION CAMPAIGN - MY ILLUSTRATED STORY
Illustrated story of a teenager with hearing disabilities:

Bullying is an attitude

I can’t say that my story is a common story of bullying as our teachers were very strict with the bad behaviors against me, so my classmates were pretending that they were accepting me. But they wouldn’t. At school, when we made the teams to play football or other team games, they always left me to be their last selection and the leaders were fighting who would take me in their team. “I took the handicapped last time, now it is your turn”. They totally ignored that I was there, that I could listen to them, but no, they didn’t care at all. Sometimes, girls that witnessed the incident asked them to apologize for their behavior to me. They always did it, I think because they were afraid of our teachers, but they keep on ignoring me and call me a handicapped. The message from my bullying experience is that if you want to change a situation and prevent bullying, try to explain to the bullies why they shouldn’t do it, not only threaten them with penalties. Bullying is an attitude, not only a special behavior.

5 Το bullying είναι στάση ζωής

SCHOOL BULLYING PREVENTION CAMPAIGN - MY ILLUSTRATED STORY
Illustrated story of a teenager with hearing disabilities:

Music lesson

It was my first music lesson at the new school. Sadly, not all of my teachers were informed of my hearing disability. Since I wasn't totally deaf and I could follow gestures, and I understood that a teacher asked me something. I didn't understand what she asked me and I noticed that she started getting angry with me, so I tried to explain, but I saw that she didn't even try to understand. A few moments later I heard a quiet buzzing sound behind me and when I turned to see what that was, I saw all of my classmates dying of laughter. I found out that all of them, including the teacher, won't even try to understand me, so I just took all my stuff and rushed out of the classroom angry. For a few days after the incident I stayed at home, but after communicating with my parents I decided to try one more time. That day the same teacher asked me to meet and apologized to me for how she acted publicly. I forgave her but showed her that she shouldn't judge students right off the bat. After this incident students were told about my situation and also apologized. Since then, my school experience wasn't as bad as it used to be.

ILLUSTRATED BULLYING PART 05

SCHOOL BULLYING PREVENTION CAMPAIGN - MY ILLUSTRATED STORY
Illustrated story of a teenager with hearing disabilities:

Obvious provocation

A few days ago, I quietly went out for a walk around the town. Suddenly I saw 3 girls coming in front of me, one of whom deliberately hit my shoulder as I was passing by. Then she obviously started laughing at me as if she wanted to provoke or make fun of me. I was very angry, I didn’t control myself and I told her very ugly words. That was my first reaction in that situation. The girls turned around and left. I felt bad for a long time because of both their actions and my inadequate reaction. But I can't change anything... It happened…

Obvious provocation A few days ago, I quietly went out for a walk around the town. Suddenly I saw 3 girls coming in front of me, one of whom deliberately hit my shoulder as I wa...

SCHOOL BULLYING PREVENTION CAMPAIGN - MY ILLUSTRATED STORY
Illustrated story of a teenager with hearing disabilities:

Music lesson

It was my first music lesson at the new school. Sadly, not all of my teachers were informed of my hearing disability. Since I wasn't totally deaf and I could follow gestures, and I understood that a teacher asked me something. I didn't understand what she asked me and I noticed that she started getting angry with me, so I tried to explain, but I saw that she didn't even try to understand. A few moments later I heard a quiet buzzing sound behind me and when I turned to see what that was, I saw all of my classmates dying of laughter. I found out that all of them, including the teacher, won't even try to understand me, so I just took all my stuff and rushed out of the classroom angry. For a few days after the incident I stayed at home, but after communicating with my parents I decided to try one more time. That day the same teacher asked me to meet and apologized to me for how she acted publicly. I forgave her but showed her that she shouldn't judge students right off the bat. After this incident students were told about my situation and also apologized. Since then, my school experience wasn't as bad as it used to be.

ILLUSTRATED BULLYING PART 05

SCHOOL BULLYING PREVENTION CAMPAIGN - MY ILLUSTRATED STORY
Illustrated story of a teenager with hearing disabilities:

I was an 11th-grade student in my home city İstanbul. I have a hearing impairment and can barely hear anything without my hearing aids. I was sometimes picked on because I have hearing aids because I'm different but it wasn't anything that I would call bullying since it usually was a one-off thing and nothing but a few swear words. Until a few weeks ago. I went to school but my hearing aids stopped working. I didn't have my spares with me and it was already the 5th break so I chose to stay for the last lesson. But then a 12th grader came to me and started laughing and saying something to me. When I responded that I can't hear anything he started pushing me and swinging his first towards me. Nothing really happened after that and I thought it was over but when I went to school the next day, he and his group came to me and stole my hearing aids. I told the school but they really didn't do anything. My mom and I are thinking of changing schools now. But I hope this won't happen again.

ILLUSTRATED BULLYING PART 03

SCHOOL BULLYING PREVENTION CAMPAIGN - MY ILLUSTRATED STORY
Illustrated story of a teenager with hearing disabilities:

We are all loved

I have hearing problems, but try always to see the full of glass! Sometimes in life it is better not to hear those around you. Now that we have established that I am an optimistic person and I'm seeing the best in all, a solution to overcome this disability in when all laugh at me was to find someone to talk about the sad moments of the days when I was aggressed. So, I release negative thoughts and in the same I have someone who offers me unconditional help and safety.

Either he/she is a friend, a parent, a sister, a brother, a psychologist or even a pet, he/ she is a being where we find safety and due to which we can be free because he/ she listens to us, he/ she will help us to enjoy much our life. Regardless of difficulties and obstacles we face should not forget that life is beautiful and we are all loved!

Story 1 Story 1 Demetrius

SCHOOL BULLYING PREVENTION CAMPAIGN - MY ILLUSTRATED STORY
Illustrated story of a teenager with hearing disabilities:

A strong sense of humor wins everything

As a hard hearing child, my daily life wasn’t very good because my parents were working a lot of hours, so they couldn't give me the necessary attention. At the age of 6 I went to the primary school of my neighborhood and everything seemed good. As a child, I was aggressive and I was hitting my classmates when they were staring at me in a strange way or they were laughing if I couldn’t hear the teacher in the class. One day one of my classmates during a game in the school break, by mistake, dropped me down. This made me overreact, as I thought he did it on purpose. I took the scissors from my bag, and I dropped her down trying to cut her chick. Blood was running until our teacher came and separated us. Of course, everybody wanted to be expelled from school. Fortunately, I started some sessions with a psychologist who really helped me to be more calm and stronger. Now, at 13, I have friends, I am an extrovert and when someone seems to want to mistreat me, I respond with a strong sense of humor.

7 Η έντονη αίσθηση του χιούμορ κερδίζει τα πάντα

SCHOOL BULLYING PREVENTION CAMPAIGN - MY ILLUSTRATED STORY
Illustrated story of a teenager with hearing disabilities:

Birthday

Three weeks ago, when we celebrated my grandmother's 70th birthday my cousins hurt my feelings so much. It sounds like nothing serious, but it felt like they hit me with a stick.

I like to be alone, even during celebrations or parties, so I went in my room. That’s when the whole bad part of the story begins. My cousin, Ayça came into the same room where I was and started talking with me, but I didn’t recognize her because I am half-deaf. Then she started shouting, and pushing me even though they did know that I don’t like being pushed.

I asked her to stop, but she didn’t. Ayca yelled at me with very hurtful words, like “You do not belong to this family”, “Fix your ears”…

I was mentally devastated. I cried a lot that day, and couldn’t fall asleep at night. And when I remember this story, I still can’t believe what they did. She is my relative, she shouldn’t act like that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD3ps9yVPKY&list=PLSHtLn6izhmLfpgpvgyxsfpwJkGwJ4TI1&index=3

SCHOOL BULLYING PREVENTION CAMPAIGN - MY ILLUSTRATED STORY
Illustrated story of a teenager with hearing disabilities:

Art Presentation

Once in 7th grade, it was my turn to present my artwork in the classroom. I was very nervous since I have a hearing impairment. At first, everything went great, almost everyone was interested and drawn in. After my presentation it was my turn for questions, this was the part where I was very anxious. The teacher which was the judge was known to be very rude and strict. She had a mean look on her face, I was petrified. The teacher and other kids asked me questions all at once, I didn't understand anything, they were talking quickly, I apologized and said I could neither understand nor hear what they said since my hearing aid died mid-way through the presentation. The popular kids started laughing and calling me mean and hurtful ways. In the end, the teacher controlled them and asked them to write an apology letter to me.

ILLUSTRATED BULLYING PART 01

SCHOOL BULLYING PREVENTION CAMPAIGN - MY ILLUSTRATED STORY

Illustrated story of a teenager with hearing disabilities:

After sports activities
After the physical education lesson, I got completely hot and my whole face was bright red. My peers, who also have a hearing impairment, started to mock me when they saw that my face looks like a tomato, that I am thick, my face is round and still red. In our socio-cultural plane, equating human appearance with tomato is very humiliating, offensive and derogatory. After this juxtaposition, for a long time I felt that I was being ridiculed and kept reminded that I was like a tomato. Although I felt very bad at the time, I was not yet able to defend myself, I was not able to stop the bullying, so I suffered this bullying and I did not mention it to anyone, I did not seek help from anyone.

After sport activities Check out this 1080p designed by Silva Blazulioniene.

SCHOOL BULLYING PREVENTION CAMPAIGN - MY ILLUSTRATED STORY

My illustrated story - Interactive Digital Exhibition

On the 17th of December 2022, in Thessaloniki, Greece, took place one of the Multiplier Events of the Erasmus+ Project "Creativity STOPS Bullying". According to event's Agenda, Alter Ego NGO presented the Intellectual Outputs of the project and discussed about the project's results with the stakeholders. In this Multiplier Event participated 45 people: interpreters of Greek and international sign language, deaf and hard of hearing students with their families, hearing teachers of deaf or hard of hearing students, deaf teachers, tutors of deaf people, but also many people who work voluntarily in order to aim people with disabilities. The impact of the project on the participants was visible during discussions, as the majority of them (especially the teachers) said that they have already included project's methods in their own teaching techniques.

We are happy to inform you that the last intellectual output of the project is ready. "My illustrated story" - Interactive digital exhibition can be found at: https://padlet.com/andreimocanu2/aindnsereomyy5oo and also on the website of the project at: https://creativitystopsbullying.blogspot.com/p/my-illustrated-story-interactive.html?m=1
It contains 60 stories of hearing disabled teenagers who experienced bullying. The stories are illustrated by: videos, animations and drawings.

My illustrated story - Interactive Digital Exhibition

On 29-30 of August 2022 the last Transnational Project Meeting of Erasmus+ project "Creative Activities to Prevent Bullying on Special Needs Students" took place in Istanbul, Turkey. During this meeting partners discussed about: the status of the project activities, next steps on developing intellectual output 4 - "My illustrated story" - Interactive digital exhibition, organizing the multiplier events and project's dissemination. It was a very productive meeting!

We are happy to inform you that Intellectual Output 3 "Stories about bullying: learn and prevent" Guidelines for teachers' creative and coping workshops is ready in English and translated in: Romanian, Lithuanian, Greek, Italian and Turkish. All translations are on the website of the project, at the following address: https://creativitystopsbullying.blogspot.com/p/stories-about-bullying-learn-and.html

Partners of the project met online on the 25th of May 2022 to discuss about dissemination of Intellectual Output 3: STORIES ABOUT BULLYING-LEARN AND PREVENT Guidelines for Teachers' Creative and Coping Workshops and also about the work plan for Intellectual Output 4: MY ILLUSTRATED STORY - INTERACTIVE DIGITAL EXHIBITION.

We are happy to inform you that Intellectual Output 1 - "Creative Methods and Tools for Bullying Prevention in Special Education" Course curriculum and Intellectual Output 2 -
"Creative Methods and Tools for Bullying Prevention in Special Education" Course Development and Piloting can be found by visiting the website of the project, at this link: https://creativitystopsbullying.blogspot.com/p/intellectual-outputs.html Both Intellectual Outputs have a version for face to face training and one for self-directed learning and are available in English and translated in languages of the project.

Intellectual Outputs

Partners of Erasmus+ project "Creativity STOPS Bullying" have worked on piloting Intellectual Output 3 - "Stories about bullying - learn and prevent"-Guidelines for teachers' creative and coping workshops. We are happy to share some photos from the activities.

Leaflet "Creativity STOPS Bullying"

Poster "Creativity STOPS Bullying"

Newsletter No. 3/2022

First Intellectual Output "Creative Methods and Tools for Bullying Prevention in Special Education" Course Curriculum has a version for face to face training and one for self-directed training. It was written in English and translated in all partners languages and can be found on the project's website at this link: https://creativitystopsbullying.blogspot.com/2021/12/creative-methods-and-tools-for-bullying.html

"Creative Methods and Tools for Bullying Prevention in Special Education" Course curriculum INTELLECTUAL OUTPUT-1 FACE TO FACE TRAINING CURRICULUM EN INTELLECTUAL OUTPUT-1 SELF-DIRECTED TRAINING CURRICULUM EN Intellectual Output-1 F...

Transnational Project Meeting in Telsiai, Lithuania

Project title: Creative Activities to Prevent Bullying on Special Needs Students
Creativity STOPS Bullying
2020-1-RO01-KA227-SCH-095427

Erasmus+ project ``Creativity STOPS Bullying`` addresses a highly important and hot topic that affects the educational systems across Europe, offering improved knowledge, skills and practices for prevention and intervention in bullying situations on teenagers with and without hearing impairments. The goal of the project is to provide training solutions and bullying prevention and intervention skills, as well as to raise awareness on school bullying danger among the target groups as a stringent issue with long term consequences on teenagers’ mental and emotional health.
Erasmus+ Project’s “Creativity STOPS bullying” partners met in Telsiai, Lithuania, on 9-10 of December, 2021. During this meeting participants discussed about the status of the project activities and next steps on project’s implementation.
You can find Intellectual Outputs developed so far (“Creative Methods and Tools for Bullying Prevention in Special Education” Course Curriculum and (“Creative Methods and Tools for Bullying Prevention in Special Education” Corse Development and Piloting) at:
https://creativitystopsbullying.blogspot.com/p/intellectual-outputs.html
More about project:
https://www.facebook.com/Creativity-STOPS-bullying-108409264658906

Project “Creativity STOPS bullying” partners met in Telsiai, Lithuania on 9-10 of December, 2021. During this meeting participants discussed about status of the project activities, project dissemination, financial management, project intellectual outputs and other issues. The participants were introduced to the Telsiai - capital of Samogitia, watched the deaf kids’ paintings exhibition in Telsiai municipality.

Project partners created Intellectual output 1: Course
curriculum "Creative Methods and Tools for Bullying Prevention in Special Education". The training based on this curriculum will provide knowledge and skills for teachers to use creative and attractive methods and tools to teach students how to protect themselves from bullying, appropriate reactions and behaviours and ways of preventing it.
You can find this output: https://creativitystopsbullying.blogspot.com/2021/12/creative-methods-and-tools-for-bullying.html

"Creative Methods and Tools for Bullying Prevention in Special Education" Course curriculum INTELLECTUAL OUTPUT 1 - TRAINING CURRICULUM INTELLECTUAL OUTPUT 1 - SELF-DIRECTED TRAINING CURRICULUM