Cultivating kindness and emotional care: a transformative teacher training programme in Sicily

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the complex landscape of human interaction, bullying and cyberbullying emerge as profound social, educational, and psychological challenges. These acts, whether rooted in physical space or the boundless realm of cyberspace, reflect deeper issues related to power dynamics, identity, and the human condition. The ‘1nessuno100Giga’ project, implemented in Sicily (2023–2025) offers an innovative intervention aimed at addressing these issues through a holistic and collaborative educational methodology. This paper focuses on the teacher training component conducted in 2024, which involved 150 educators from primary and secondary schools. The training programme adopted experiential learning methodologies, emphasising active participation, reflective practices, and collaborative project development. The primary aim of this approach was to move beyond the traditional notions of bullying and cyberbullying, focusing instead on cultivating care, kindness, and respect within human relationships. The results of this study indicate that teachers experienced a significant shift in perspective, recognising the importance of addressing power dynamics and social norms in managing bullying. This study underscores the effectiveness of experiential teacher training in not only addressing bullying and cyberbullying, but also in promoting a supportive and inclusive educational environment.