Bullying is an undeniable problem. Just take a look at the figures to realize it. In Spain one in 10 students says they have suffered bullying, according to a report by Save the Children on bullying in Spain.
In order that these abuses do not recur and eventually disappear, a series of initiatives such as the KiVa anti-bullying program have been launched. Do you know what it is? Your goal is prevent bullying from prevention and best of all, it is already in Spain.
What does KiVa mean?
Perhaps the name of this program, which is an acronym for Kiusaamista Vastaan, means "against bullying."
What is the KiVa anti-bullying program and how does it work?
KiVa is a program that aims to prevent harassment situations. For this it has been based on an investigation carried out by the University of Turku, Finland. Experts who have studied the phenomenon of bullying and its mechanisms for decades have participated in the preparation of this program.
This program focuses on prevention. In this way, it seeks to prevent bullying and address these cases through constant monitoring of behaviors in the classrooms of schools. Through the feedback obtained from the centers, bullying can be prevented and the cases that are occurring can be addressed.
To achieve this, the KiVa program is implemented in which, through study and games, students learn to prevent bullying. This plan is aimed at both children and adolescents who have once harassed another partner or who have been victims of such harassment. In addition, the program also provides enough weapons so that classmates know how to support the victim and end bullying.
The program has two areas: preventive and intervention. Students receive classes at 7, 10 and 13 years. They are taught to identify peers' emotions and know how they feel only by tone of voice or body expression. They also learn to differentiate harassment from a timely fight.
These classes are completed with video games, support material and talks with parents. There is also a virtual mailbox to make anonymous complaints or ask for help avoiding the exposure of students.
In Finland, most of the country's schools are registered in the KiVa schools that implement the program.
The Kiva plan, an effective program
The first pilot study of the KiVa antibullying program was conducted in 2013-2014 with a total of 1,825 students. In this study it was seen that in the primary schools in which the KiVa program had been applied, there was a 55% reduction in cases of bullying. In secondary schools, the reduction was 40%.
The results of the KiVa antibullying program speak for themselves. A study in which 117 schools with direct intervention programs and 117 schools with prevention programs were analyzed showed that This plan reduces verbal, physical and cyberbullying harassment, managing to improve the situation of 98% of the victims.
Kiva in Spain
The Kiva anti-bullying program is being implemented throughout Europe and, of course, also in Spain. The promoter in our country was the professor and researcher Blanca López Catalán, who decided to implement it in some public, private and concerted schools in Spain. such as the European College of Madrid or the Santo Domingo College of Madrid.
In this way, what is sought is to mentalize the students so that they learn that they cannot have a passive attitude to a case of harassment of a classmate but that they must support the victim in front of the stalker and thus fight to end the bullying of Once for all.
