Designing Safer, More Supportive Schools – Insights from the EMBRACE Future Forum
At the EMBRACE Future PROJECT Forum in Bucharest, children and teenagers were invited to speak openly about the pressures and emotional challenges they face in school. The result was a powerful reminder of how much insight young people have when we give them a safe platform to share their experiences.
The Emotional Landscape: What Young People Shared
Students described challenges that echo national research in Romania:
– loneliness
– fear of failure
– difficulty building trust with teachers
– pressure from exams
– feeling misunderstood
– cyberbullying and offline bullying
Data from the INI Institute (2024) shows that nearly one-third of Romanian students report experiencing physical or psychological abuse, and cyberbullying is rising, contributing to higher rates of anxiety and depression.
Student-Designed Solutions
Rather than focusing only on challenges, young people proposed clear, realistic ideas:
- A weekly day for emotional reset, collaboration, and rest
- A student advisor to enable direct communication with the Ministry of Education
- Better access to psychologists and counselors through school–NGO partnerships
- Peer-counseling programs and dedicated calm rooms for emotional support
These proposals align with research in education and developmental psychology, which highlights that student involvement in decision-making can improve well-being, motivation, and school climate.
How EMBRACE Responds
EMBRACE Future integrates these insights into its educational materials and emotional literacy resources, aiming to strengthen empathy, emotional awareness, and community support in schools across Europe.
Listening Is the First Step
Young people are active contributors with valuable ideas that the school system can make use of.
They’re not waiting for change.
They’re imagining it and communicating.
Our responsibility is to listen and act.
Source: INI Institute. (2024, April 18). Mapping Youth Mental Health Landscapes
