At IBSA, care and "taking care" are principles that go beyond the drug and the illness and are achieved through projects that focus on Communities and People.
Such is the case for the #nobullismo2020 project, supported by IBSA and organized by #IlMagnete in the secondary school classes of the Istituto Comprensivo Lodi II. Two digital education sessions that covered various topics: bullyism in all its forms, responsible and aware use of the internet, new technologies and video games with the aim of preventing cyberbullyism.
It is well known that bullyism frustrates, depresses, frightens and causes psychological, as well as physical damage to victims, and, although the pandemic has deprived “bullies” of physical proximity to their peers by closing schools, it has also extended the time that students spend in front of their computer.
Children now live, learn and socialise in front of a computer screen. This unprecedented increase in time spent online has made them more vulnerable to cyberbullyism. It is estimated that one in ten students suffers cyber harassment and this form of violence is on the rise [source: UNESCO]. Data released by the Ministry for Safer Internet Day estimate a 59% increase in cyberbullyism incidents [source: www.consulcesi.it].
Il Magnete, through digital education sessions, allowed the Lodi schoolchildren to get involved and gradually engage in discussion, focusing on particular insights and factors that helped them understand the great distress caused by bullyism.
Singer MEiD also spoke at the sessions, telling his story of being bullied and how he has managed to live with the pain that he experienced. Current issues were addressed and there was discussion about choices, about the importance of reporting and having the courage to speak out, about how easy it can be to talk to the right adults and about how a small gesture can mean so much to someone in distress.
