Be Safe, Be Cool in Your School combats violence against children in Romania through early intervention, education, and child-led solutions that create safer school environments and empowered communities.
TACKLING A GROWING VIOLENCE CRISIS
Romania is facing a rise in violence against children, including physical, verbal, and sexual abuse, bullying, and neglect—both at home and in school. In Bucharest’s 6th District, it became evident that many professionals interacting with children were ill-equipped to identify and respond to these issues. The project addresses this gap by creating mechanisms for recognition, prevention, and timely intervention to protect children's right to a safe and supportive environment.
INNOVATIVE INTERVENTIONS AND SERVICES
Be Safe, Be Cool in Your School stands out for introducing accessible violence reporting tools and deploying a mobile multi-institutional response team. It offers child-centered services such as the Barnahus hearing centre and psychosocial counselling for victims. A core innovation is the active involvement of children in designing the project, ensuring that campaigns, tools, and services reflect their needs and experiences. Awareness initiatives also educate children and adults about the signs of abuse and how to act.
BUILDING SAFER COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION
Between 2023 and 2024, the project trained 50 teachers, 10 police officers, 12 NGO social workers, and 30 school counsellors to better identify and address violence. Meanwhile, 400 children participated in workshops, and 30 helped design the campaign visuals and messaging. This combined effort of capacity-building and youth engagement has not only improved school safety but also built a model of community-led child protection that can be scaled across Romania.
