In La Louvière, a center has just opened its doors. Its goal: to support young victims of bullying but also their parents who are confronted with this phenomenon.
Arthur (assumed name) is 12 years old. He was bullied at two different schools. It all started in first grade. “I suffered blows, insults, not very pleasant nicknames and everything that follows. Then one day, I mightn’t take it anymore. I told my parents regarding it”he says.
Two years had then passed. During these two years, he suffered in silence for fear of reprisals. Difficult for his mother not to have seen anything during all this time. “I remember he came back with bruises. He said to me ‘I often fall in the playground’. Yes, it’s possible’. He came back with torn clothes. He said ‘I got hanging in the doorknob’. It’s possible. And then when you’re aware, you make the connections”, she testifies.
His parents then changed schools. Until the end of the primaries, everything went well. But in September, he enters first secondary and the situation gets out of hand once more. Originally: a challenge on social networks which consists of filming young people who get angry. “I was pushed to the limit until I exploded. And then we took out the phones. That’s how it went”remembers the young man.
deep wounds
His mother quickly recognizes the signs: aggressiveness, withdrawal, etc. She directly appeals to the center of La Louvière which offers full support to victims of harassment. “We have a multidisciplinary team: psycho-socio-legal. We can accompany with psycho-therapeutic follow-up, give legal advice. We often act as a relay between the parents and the school”, explains David Plisnier, coordinator of the center.
Arthur is followed by a psychologist. The center got in touch with his new school. This is a precious help that gives him hope for the future despite deep wounds. “For the moment, I see that everything is going well. I keep the positive side. But, I always have this little fear of falling back on stalkers or others”, souffle l’adolescent.
In the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, one in three pupils is the victim of bullying.
