A 10-Year-Old Boy's Letter About Bullying Read at the 'Let's Stop Bullying Together' Ceremony

At the 'Let’s Stop Bullying Together' competition ceremony, organized by the Giannis Christodoulou Foundation with the support of the Ministry of Education of Cyprus, a letter from a 10-year-old student who fell victim to bullying was read.

"I changed schools because Christos kept bothering me. Don’t forget me," the boy wrote to his classmates. It was clarified on stage that the names in the letter had been changed.

According to the ministry, about 20% of children in Cyprus are officially registered as victims of school bullying, though the actual figure may be higher. As part of the initiative, students were invited to create short videos on how to stand up to bullying. The six best entries will be awarded next May. The total prize fund of 100,000 euros will be directed toward projects in the winning schools.

Foundation founder John Christodoulou emphasized that the problem cannot be ignored: "We must all help stop bullying — parents, teachers, the state. If someone sees bullying, they have a duty to intervene." He also urged children not to be afraid to ask for help, noting that schools should be a space without fear.

Minister of Education Athina Michaelidou recalled that a law on the prevention of violence in schools has been in effect in Cyprus since 2024, requiring educational institutions to create special committees and develop plans to combat bullying.

The initiative was supported by celebrities, including singer Konstantinos Argyros and American TV host Kimberly Guilfoyle. Actor Koulis Nicolaou admitted that he himself faced bullying as a child.