‘What we give to others, come back to us’. The role of peer leadership in creating a positive school climate and bullying prevention

Abstract

In this article, the authors discuss the nature of peer-based prevention programs. The analyzes are conducted in the context of school bullying prevention and the associated need to build a friendly and safe school environment. Attention was paid to shaping a positive peer culture by involving young people in various types of prosocial activities. Peer leadership programs are a special kind of activity where the driving force is youth. Implementation of a peer program into school life enables the full potential of young people to be activated. Such programs mobilize young people to make positive changes in their social surroundings, to help themselves and others through constructive cooperation. Taking into account that these programs are carried out within the school environment, the condition of the effectiveness is the attitude of school toward such activities. It is important to foster positive peer relationships, to encourage students to participate and create the right conditions for change.