Compassionate Classrooms to Combat Bullying
August 2025 - June 2026
IZMIR
Preventive and transformative approaches, including compassionate classroom environments, contribute to the prevention of bullying by building on empathy, understanding, and inclusivity. These environments, where emotional awareness and social skills are developed, support the establishment of healthy relationships among students. As part of the project, adults working with children will be empowered to support this transformation process; space will be created for active participation and students will be supported through creative work. Through activities such as creative poster creation, students will have the opportunity to express their anti-bullying messages and become part of the solution. Such activities also strengthen a sense of belonging, encourage collaboration, and positively impact the school climate. The project is shaped by an inclusive approach that also protects children who are vulnerable to exclusion due to their various developmental, identitarian, cultural, gender, and physical characteristics. This project aims not only to prevent bullying but also to ensure that children and young people grow up in a fair and equitable learning environment and to raise awareness of this. As part of the project, artistic productions created by participants will be exhibited to increase visibility on the topic. The resulting guide will make these tools an open resource for every school in need and for every adult working with children.
Ceren Suntekin
After completing her undergraduate education in Philosophy at Hacettepe University, she completed her master's degree in child and youth welfare in the Department of Social Work at the same university. She has been working in civil society since 2000. Her areas of focus include children's rights and child participation, children's rights in the media, rights-based communication and organizing strategies, inclusive and accessible learning models, gender equality, youth rights, sexual health, combating discrimination, protecting and preventing rights violations, intersectionality, and inclusion. Suntekin, one of the founders of the Tarlabaşı Community Center, has also worked with refugee children and youth in both Germany and Türkiye. In 2017, she served as a children's rights consultant at the Sarıyer Municipality and later served for four years as the coordinator of the Şişli Municipality Equality Unit. Suntekin continues to participate in and develop content for the children and youth programs of the Association for the Struggle Against Sexual Violence, where she served on the board of directors, and the Yereliz Association, which works to build the capacity of local governments. As an independent expert, Suntekin works with civil society organizations, social enterprises, civil society actors, and local governments on training, consultancy, mentoring, facilitation, and content development. For a time, she worked as an editor for the Civil Voices "From Children" page. She currently works on content development and as a facilitator at the Amnesty International Dilek Kumcu Children's Rights School. She also serves as a consultant on children's rights and gender equality at the Hatay Surf Center, established after the February 6 earthquakes. Suntekin, who equates color and drawing with breathing, has recently taken great pleasure in combining the impactful and creative power of art with rights-based projects.
https://linktr.ee/Cerensuntekin
This page is published on 11 September 2025.
