The first Thursday of November marks the International Day Against Violence and Bullying at School, a day to promote awareness and reflection on this issue. Even today, it remains a real threat that affects the emotional, educational, and social well-being of thousands of children and adolescents.
According to recent data in Spain, around 9.4% of students report having been victims of bullying or cyberbullying. It is estimated that more than 300,000 minors experience bullying or cyberbullying each year. Moreover, this phenomenon is not limited to in-person settings: in 14% of cyberbullying cases, artificial intelligence has been used to manipulate images, impersonate identities, or spread harmful content.
These figures remind us that we cannot look the other way. At the Rafa Nadal Foundation, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that our Centres in Palma, Valencia, and Madrid are safe spaces—places where children and adolescents know they can express themselves, be heard, and receive support. Below, we explain how we work to make this a reality:
How do we make our centres safe places?
1. Ongoing psychosocial support
From the very beginning, every child who joins our centres has access to emotional support. Our team of professionals (psychologists, social educators) works consistently to accompany their personal development, detect warning signs, and provide early intervention when there is hidden distress. Ensuring that minors are not alone in dealing with their emotions is a fundamental priority.
2. “How are you?” – A question that opens conversation
At the start of every session—educational or sports-related—we take a few minutes to ask each child, “How are you today?” or “Is there something you’d like to share?”. It may seem simple, but this moment builds trust, shows that we care about their emotions, and often opens the door for them to express experiences that would otherwise remain unspoken. It is common for children who have experienced bullying to begin to trust their surroundings when they feel listened to without judgment.
3. Awareness and active prevention
In addition to individual support, we organize awareness sessions on bullying and positive coexistence. Talks, group dynamics, workshops, and campaigns—all are aimed at helping minors identify what bullying is, how to act if they see or experience it, and how to build respectful relationships every day.
Why these practices matter
- Early detection. Many cases go unreported due to fear or lack of communication resources. Creating a trusting environment allows us to identify warning signs before situations worsen.
- Preventing prolonged suffering. Bullying can last for months or even years; studies show that 47.3% of cases persist for months and 26.6% last more than a year.
- Building a culture of respect. Reacting individually is not enough—we must teach the whole community (children, adolescents, educators, and families) that bullying is unacceptable, empathy matters, and everyone has a role to play.
Our commitment: To eradicate bullying and always provide support
At the Rafa Nadal Foundation, we renew our commitment to making our centres places of respect, listening, and growth.
We firmly believe that sport, education, and psychosocial support can change the life of a child in a vulnerable situation.
- We will maintain psychosocial support as a central pillar of our work.
- We will continue dedicating those daily “How are you?” moments as seeds of trust.
- We will keep promoting awareness, training, and prevention actions in all our centres.
- We will continue collaborating with families, teachers, and local entities to build a network of protection against bullying.