In 2004, Child Welfare League Foundation (CWLF) translated the term “bullying” (霸凌) and introduced it into Taiwan, launching various anti-bullying services and advocacy activities. In the past two decades, we have actively promoted anti-bullying initiatives in schools and communities across Taiwan, discussed bullying issues with teachers, children, and parents, and provided them with relevant resources and support. We are grateful for Kaohsiung American School’s (KAS) invitation to hold an anti-bullying event in March 2025, which gave us a great opportunity to share the knowledge and preventive methods with English-speaking students from elementary school and middle school.

In this awareness-raising event, we first introduced the definition, types, and current statistics of bullying. And then, through case scenarios and videos, we guided students in discussing the perspectives and emotions of the bullies, victims, and bystanders in bullying incidents. Next, we shared four actions for preventing bullying, including:

(1) Respecting each other’s differences
(2) Using internet properly
(3) Practicing emotional regulation and self-care
(4) Seeking help and supporting each other

At the end of the event, we helped students reflect on what they had learned from the activity through an engaging prize quiz.

On the day of the event, a total of 114 elementary school students from the fourth and fifth grades and 216 middle school students participated. The elementary school students first learned about the definition and different types of bullying. In the following section on bullying prevention, they were introduced to emotional regulation techniques and practiced breathing exercises to help themselves relax under the CWLF speaker’s guidance. During the interactive Q&A session, many students actively raised their hands to share their thoughts on the anti-bullying strategies discussed earlier.

For middle school students, the event focused on cyberbullying, including the significant impact and potential risks of generative AI on teenagers. Through statistics and current affairs, students were reminded that bullying is a prevalent issue in their surroundings. Additionally, by watching the animated short film Speak Your Mind about School Life, the students understood the pressure that witnessing a bullying incident could place on individuals and groups of people. They also thought about solutions to bullying-related challenges.

During the Q&A session, the students shared that the lecture helped them realize the importance of recognizing different personality traits, and that they would show empathy and concern for their peers. They would also take the initiative to seek help when encountering bullying incidents.

We appreciate the teachers and students of KAS for their active participation in this event and their support for CWLF’s ongoing work on anti-bullying issues. We hope that in the future, our anti-bullying initiative can be further promoted to every corner of Taiwan, empowering each child to take good care of themselves, treat others with kindness, and create a healthy and inclusive school environment together.