On 9 April 2025 the “Reach Out Your Hand” event was held with great success at the Xanthi Municipal Amphitheatre, with its central theme raising awareness against school bullying.
Pupils, teachers and parents took part in an event that highlighted the importance of accepting and respecting diversity, as well as the need for active participation in combating school violence.
The event began with the presentation of “Two Different Days”, a book against “bullies” by Mr Tasos Konstantinidis, which touches with sensitivity and honesty on the ideas of diversity, friendship and acceptance.
Pupils of the Special Vocational Education and Training Workshop of Genisea – EEEEK Xanthi contributed to the event by singing the song “Different – Friends Forever”, which promotes friendship and the acceptance of diversity without prejudice.
Next, Mr Dimitris Mourtetzikoglou, Deputy Commander of the Security Department, analysed the concepts of school violence and of school and online bullying, as well as their effects on children’s behaviour, while also encouraging the prompt reporting of bullying behaviour to the authorities.
The appearance of the 9th Kindergarten of Xanthi with the song “Break the Silence” highlighted the need for awareness and education from an early age, while Ms Evmorfia Stylianidou, Director of Primary Education, analysed the forms of school bullying and offered practical advice on recognising and handling such situations.
Ms Stella Argyriou, an educational and developmental psychologist, focused on the psychological and physical effects of bullying, pointing to statistics on online bullying and offering strategies for preventing it and dealing with it effectively.
The event closed with a screening of the moving short film “The Blue Glasses”, which sent a strong message against school violence and social exclusion.
The initiative was organised by #enaevents, the service of ena Development Consultants that designs and delivers informative, educational and scientific events and conferences, in person, hybrid and remote, in collaboration with the Gender Equality Committee of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace and the Xanthi Voluntary Blood Donors’ Association “Reach Out Your Hand”.
Events like this one are a link in the chain towards building a fairer, safer and more humane society. We thank everyone who took part and helped us “reach out our hand”, strengthening the voice of the children who need our support in the fight against school bullying.