In English

Background
The organisation Friends was founded in 1997 to help schools set up a plan of action against bullying. Since then we have discovered that it is possible to do something about the bad situation in many of our schools.

We work with helping pupils to speak up against meanness and injustice, to make them believe in themselves and to respect and care for eachother. We communicate the importance of pupils, school staff and parents assuming their own responsibility and that each and everyone can use their own possibilities to influence in a positive direction.

Procedure
We begin our work at the school by training the staff. The aim with this training is to get a good foundation for the continued active work at the school and also for the staff to get more knowledge on the matter and the influence one has as an adult. It is very important that all staff working at the school receive the same information so that they can take a common stand and united strive towards a positive goal.

Step two in our work at the school is a short and forceful information in the assembly hall for all the students. The purpose is to wake awareness and engagement against bullying and abusive behaviour, and to promote the project that is to be started at the school. Afterwards they have discussions in the classrooms with their teacher.

As a student one knows what the atmosphere and groupings are like in the class. For that reason two pupils from every class are elected to be Friends-reps by their classmates. They will expose problems in their class and together with other Friends-reps and the adult team (a group of staff designated to work specifically against bullying) take measures against these and other related problems.

We at Friends train all the Friends-reps one day. This is to give them more knowledge about bullying and to encourage them to take a stand against bullying, violence and discrimination. The training is important not only for the education but also to create unity in the Friends-reps group and to engage them for the task that awaits them. The adult group shall support and help the Friends-reps and take care of more serious problems at the school. Nite that the Friends-reps have no responsibility to deal with bullying on their own.

After Friends have trained both staff and students the school proceeds the work independently. Friends will however be available if there is any need for advice and support. Twice each semester the Friends-reps receive a newsletter from Friends with current information concerning bullying, suggestions and ideas.

We also offer parental information and adult team training or other counselling on how to organise preventive work in the best way.

We wish you good luck with your future work against bullying and hope for united efforts in creating a more humane school!