DEALING WITH BULLYING: WORKSHOP ORGANIZED BY G D GOENKA UNIVERSITY, SOHNA

(JANUARY 17, 2025)

The session on Dealing with Bullying was an eye-opening and heartfelt discussion about one of the most pressing challenges in schools today. It shed light on the realities of bullying, its profound impact on young lives, and practical ways to create a safer, kinder environment for everyone. The Resource Persons for the workshop were Dr. Samir Parikh, Ms. Geetika Kapoor, Dr. Astik Joshi, Ms. Kamna Chibber, Ms. Mimansa Tanwar, Ms. Tanushree Sangma, Ms. Anusha Tyagi, Nishtha Narula, Ms.Aditi Kaul and Ms. Shambhavi Jaiman.

The session kicked off with a powerful explanation of what bullying truly is – not just harmless teasing, but repeated, intentional behavior designed to harm someone with less power. Stories and examples brought to life the different forms of bullying, from hurtful words to exclusion and online harassment. The workshop centered on the idea that prevention is better than cure.

The speakers laid emphasis Fostering a culture of kindness and inclusion in schools, making anti-bullying policies more than just words on paper by actively enforcing them, training staff to spot and respond to bullying early and building trust so students feel safe speaking up.

When bullying happens, how adults respond can make all the difference. The session emphasized stepping in swiftly and calmly, offering support to the victim, and helping the bully understand the consequences of their actions. Collaborative solutions involving parents, teachers, and counselors were highlighted as essential.

The key takeaways were that bullying is not just a school problem – it’s a community issue that requires everyone’s involvement, recognizing the signs early and addressing them can change the trajectory of a child’s life and building an environment of empathy and respect can go a long way in preventing bullying. The Workshop reinforced the idea that stopping bullying isn’t about a single policy or program – it’s about creating a culture where everyone feels safe and valued.

All the sessions planned were very insightful and it was a great learning for all present there.