In a packed hall, "The Child's Smile" presented Thessaloniki with the short film "The Thoughts of Nefelis", which he created to give substance and voice to the feelings experienced by a child being bullied. Taking into account the abundance and intensity of the phenomena of intra-school violence that take place every day, causing feelings of insecurity and fear in thousands of students, "The Smile of the Child" was created to awaken the school community and society as a whole. The "Frida Liappa" movie theatre, in warehouse D' at the port of Thessaloniki, was overwhelmed by students, teachers and the mass media. The Vice-Regional Governor of the Regional Unity of Thessaloniki, Mrs Voula Patoulidou, and representatives of the Regional Directorate of Primary and Secondary Education of Central Macedonia were honoured with their presence. The presentation was also given by representatives of the company Diamantis Masoutis S.A., which sponsors the event in Thessaloniki and the nearby stations where the film will be shown, conveying a resounding message against bullying to even more children.
The Chairman of the Board likened it to slow-burning bombs. From the Organisation, Mr. Kostas Yiannopoulos said the incidents of intra-school violence turned the children's everyday life into a nightmare. At the same time, he said: "We should not label the children involved in bullying incidents since the bully is not a bully; he is a child who also needs help. Waving the finger, recognise all we do is bring the children towards us. The solution is to bring them alongside us, as is done today with the film "Thoughts of Nefelis", which presents the harsh reality of Bullying. Through the film, children have the opportunity to recognise the feelings of a child who is being bullied and at the same time increase their empathy". He also called on the children to take action, participating in the European Student Voluntary Network "YouSmile" of the Organisation, where they can express themselves, create freely and have their voice taken into account by adults, just as one of the fundamental rights of the child, the right to participate. Finally, he addressed the educational community, emphasising their heavy responsibility in preventing and dealing with incidents of intra-school violence, calling on them to create a network of cooperation with "The Smile of the Child", where each side will do their utmost to eliminate the phenomenon.
In her turn, the Vice-Regional Governor of the Regional Unity of Thessaloniki, Mrs. Voula Patoulidou, said: "I am especially happy that "The Smile of a Child", all these years, has been awakening society." In addition, he urged the students to draw knowledge and strength from the story of Nefeli, stressing that the future is in their own hands, as is the choice of the path they will choose in life.
Mr. Kalaitzakis Giannis, Marketing Director of the company Diamantis Masoutis S.A., emphasised: "It is our great joy and emotion to be here today. For more than ten years, we have stood by "Smile" in practice, supporting its actions and families, especially the fruit of the family, which is none other than children. Family is at the core of our company, and we will continue to support all children who need our help so they can have a future away from negative trends and influences."
After the end of the screening, psychologists from the Organisation, who every day carry out interventions to prevent and raise awareness of the phenomenon of intra-school violence throughout Greece, coordinated an open discussion with the students, who actively participated, presenting their perspectives and points of view for the phenomenon. Among other things, the psychologists of the Organisation stressed that it is important for children, whether they are being bullied or are observers, to talk to someone they trust, to contact the Organisation "The Child's Smile" through the National SOS Hotline 1056 and the CHAT1056 application.
The film is based on real incidents of intra-school violence that have been reported to the National Children's SOS 1056 line of the Organisation by students who experienced Bullying and who tried to do something about it, to talk, to address an adult so that it stops feeling alone. What happened to Nefeli?
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 that's how it seems... In the last months of her life, she has changed; she is less talkative and more withdrawn, she doesn't sleep at night, she's stopped eating, and the doctors can't figure out what's wrong with her. She spends most of her hours alone, locked in her room. For company, she only has 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 the beginning?
The pain, the fear, and the shame are inside the children who experience the harsh reality of bullying. The film's purpose is initially for all of us to recognise these feelings but also to increase our empathy and the support we must provide to these Children. This phenomenon is constantly intensifying, as in the SOS Children's Line 1056, the Counseling Line 116111 and Chat 1056; every day, we manage 2 cases of school bullying like Nefeli's... It is worth noting that based on the Organisation's recent Research:
1 in 3 children across Greece is bullied at school, and
1 in 6 children across the country state that their school does not teach them not to bully their classmates.
You can see the research in detail HERE:
You can watch the film:
The short film was created with the springboard of the Pan-Hellenic Student Campaign "Speak Now", which has been taking place since 2014 and has the approval of the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs and focuses on information, awareness and mobilisation against the phenomenon of Intra-School Violence and Bullying/ Bullying. The film was made in collaboration with Vangelis Nakis and PSDM Athens.
We sincerely thank the sponsor of the event, "Diamantis Masoutis S.A.", and the Proud AntiBullying Supporters; with their support, we managed to proactively stand next to students all over Greece this school year for issues of violence.
We sincerely thank the Municipality of Thessaloniki for the concession of the "Frida Liappa" movie theatre in warehouse D' at the port of Thessaloniki, the companies ThessPrint and Copy Paste for covering the printing needs, Showtech, M-Spirit and Alpha Sound & Light for the technical support and equipment, Phototech for the photographic coverage, the 5th Gymnasium of Alimos for granting the school for the shooting of the film as well as the 3rd Gymnasium of Harilaou, the 2nd Gymnasium of Neapolis and the 1st Elementary School of Neapolis for their participation.
Talk Now about what you feel!
SOS Children's Hotline 1056
Counselling Hotline 116111
Chat 1056
"If people were silent, nothing would change."
Malala Yousafzai.
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