The “Chain of Good” campaign encourages dialogue and the construction of a safer and more respectful environment among CAER students. 

Scenes of verbal violence, exclusion, derogatory nicknames or offensive messages are increasingly common in the routine of children and teenagers. These behaviors are clear examples of bullying and cyberbullying, practices that cause deep and lasting damage to the lives of those who suffer them.

Bullying takes place in physical environments, such as schools or public spaces, and manifests itself through physical aggression, verbal insults and recurrent humiliation. Cyberbullying, on the other hand, takes place in the digital universe, through social networks, apps and messages, where the aggressor often hides behind anonymity to spread hatred, threats or undue exposure of images and videos.

Both directly affect the emotional, social and even academic development of young people. The consequences range from loss of self-esteem to anxiety, depression and isolation. Therefore, the fight against bullying and cyberbullying is an urgent issue that must be embraced by schools, families and institutions committed to the well-being of the younger generations.

How can we combat bullying and cyberbullying?

Educational actions are great ways of making young people aware of the dangers of bullying. With a commitment to training not only students prepared for the future, but also conscious and empathetic citizens, the Ramacrisna Institute launched the campaign “A Corrente do Bem – Criando Vínculos Sociais Fortes e Saudáveis” (The Chain of Good – Creating Strong and Healthy Social Links). The action took place from May 13 to 16, 2025, at the Ramacrisna Educational Support Center (CAER), and focused on tackling bullying and cyberbullying in an educational, sensitive and transformative way.

The proposal arose from an attentive look at the interactions between the students themselves. “We felt the need to bring this conversation into the children’s daily lives in a light but profound way. The actions were fundamental in opening up this space for listening. The children reacted with great attention and curiosity, some identified with the situations addressed and shared their experiences, which is already a big step towards raising awareness,” said Marcileide Rodrigues, CAER’s coordinator.

Opening up to dialog

The campaign began with a talk given by psychologist Elaine Cristina A. Costa, a specialist in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and a member of the Betim Municipal Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents. The chat with the students covered the different types of school violence, the emotional impacts caused and the strategies for preventing and dealing with these situations.

It was a space where children and adolescents could name their pain, recognize situations they had experienced and walk the path of respect and empathy.

In addition, the campaign also included group activities, exploring playfulness and acceptance, such as the milk carton dynamic, which uses the metaphor of an apparently simple object to discuss how prejudices and offenses affect those who suffer them internally. But that’s not all: there were conversation circles and the balloon dynamic, which represents how negative words and gestures can “burst” a person’s emotional well-being.

Finally, the students also watched the short film “Reprovados – A brincadeira continua sem graça”, which sensitively shows the impact of bullying on a student’s life.

Social worker Fernanda Martins, one of the project’s developers, reinforces the role of educational institutions in combating violence. “When the school takes on this role of educator of emotions, it goes far beyond pedagogical content. Teaching how to live together, how to listen and how to care for others is one of the most powerful ways of preventing bullying and cyberbullying,” she said.

Work that can’t stop

Despite being a one-off campaign, “A Corrente do Bem” is part of the ongoing work carried out at Ramacrisna. For psychologist Simone Caldeira, who also works at CAER, this care needs to be present throughout the school year. “This kind of action needs to be constant in order to have an effect. Children need to feel listened to and learn to deal with their emotions in a healthy way. And this is only possible when we offer spaces for active listening and mutual respect. “, he explained.

The “Chain of Good” campaign thus reaffirms Ramacrisna’s role as an institution committed to the integral formation of its students. In other words, by offering listening spaces, educational activities and emotional support, the Institute contributes to a safer childhood, a more welcoming adolescence and a more empathetic society.

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