Pavel Kotoucek talks to children about bullying, February 2022

Children love Pavel Kotoucek’s programs. And that is even when they talk about difficult topics like bullying. We wanted to know “why”, so we went to visit Pavel. Read on to find out what makes his talks special.

The children are listening to Pavel's story.

The classroom is so quiet you could hear a pin clinking on the floor. The children listen intently to Pavel’s explanation of the pitfalls of bullying.

In the middle of February, I came to a small town in south Moravia to visit the HY Worker Pavel Kotoucek during his minsitry. The surroundings gave off a magical atmosphere of a reserve full of various caves and similar natural formations. Pavel and his programs are very popular here and he also really likes to visit the children from this school.

The methodologist of prevention enthusiastically confirmed this by saying:
“I’m so sorry I couldn’t stay for the whole program… He spoke so nicely to the kids, I experienced it as one of them. I couldn’t have done it; I would have started raising my voice after a while and lost that kindness. So, I hope I get to be at the second program!” She succeeded, and she certainly couldn’t be disappointed.

The children share their experiences during Pavel's program.

Pavel gives the children the opportunity to comment on the topic. The children take advantage of the offer with pleasure.

The program, titled “The Pain of Bullying” was aimed at preventing bad relationships between classmates. And it was by no means just a list of information about what we should or shouldn’t do to have a good team, or what bullying is and isn’t.

Pavel is exceptional in that he avoids labeling and “pigeonholing” people as to who they are and where we would classify their behavior in terms of pathology. On the contrary, he asks lot of questions and gives children plenty of opportunities to answer and, most importantly, to think. And children recognize that.

At his talk, the children quickly sensed that someone who loves them had come and wanted to spend time with them.

The HY Worker supplements his explanation with a presentation.

Pavel supplements his explanation with a presentation so that the children can understand the topic even better.

It is clear that Pavel has a gift for combining the necessary information that needs to be given to the children during the program with their desire to talk. I imagine that the information he gave the students during those two hours could have been simplified into a twenty-minute presentation. But the effect would have been quite minimal.

However, this way, under Pavel’s sensitive guidance, the children basically came up with many of the answers on their own and still told their stories to everyone.

When all this is combined with the experience of being listened to and understood, we have exactly the result we would like to achieve in the Healthy Youth program.

Even during the break, children don't let the HY Worker breathe a sigh of relief.

During the break, the children bypass the HY Worker and continue the topic with interest. There is so much to say!

The children often feel so comfortable with the HY Workers during the program, it’s as if they feel the touch of heaven – the closeness of something that draws them in.

Sometimes they don’t even want to let the HY Worker go after the program. They ask when and where they can meet again.

This offers a unique opportunity to invite enthusiasts to various leisure activities in which many lecturers, including Pavel, are involved. It is the various clubs that offer a great opportunity to spend more of worthy time with the children.

The children on Pavel's program want give answer or share their own experience.

Everyone can contribute to the topic. Don’t be afraid. The word will get to you as well.

Before we leave, the teachers want to arrange further programs. As I was able to get to know them during that moment, they are already experienced “matadors” who have seen many children and programs, and they seemed to me like teacher with capital “T”: a combination of love and consistency and clear boundaries.

I find it all the more remarkable that they take Pavel so positively and, along with the children, look forward to some future visits.

Martin Stavjanik, the Authorised Supervisor of the HY Program workers