Every day, in some school in Lanzarote, a young boy or girl walks through the door with fear. They don't know if today will be a peaceful day or if they will have to endure taunts, shoves, insults, or silences that hurt more than any blow. For some, boys and girls with additional support needs, each day is a double challenge: to learn, to adapt to the classroom, and at the same time to protect themselves from bullying. How can we expect a child to perform and grow if they are afraid to get up every morning?
Behind those children are families who suffer in silence. Fathers and mothers who watch their children come home crestfallen, with their heads down, their hearts heavy. They try to support them, protect them, give them security… but often they don't know how. That helplessness hurts as much as the bullying itself. It reminds us that it is not enough to look the other way; silence also hurts.
Bullying can be physical, verbal, social, or digital. Each invisible blow leaves its mark: low self-esteem, fear of speaking, distrust of others. And it is in educational environments where this struggle is played out day after day. In these cases, it is essential to know that there is a resource that anyone can turn to: the telephone number 900 018 018, a free, confidential line available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The calls do not appear on the bill and can be made by children and adolescents as well as by families, teachers, or anyone who knows of a bullying situation. It handles cases of verbal, psychological, physical, social, sexual, and cyberbullying through social networks, mobile phones, or the internet. In addition, it has a specific chat for people with hearing or speech disabilities through the website https://chatanar.es. Having this support can make the difference between staying silent and asking for help.
That's why it's vital that schools aren't just buildings with classrooms, but safe, vigilant, attentive spaces. Teachers, counselors, classmates… we all have to form a shield that acts in time. Because every gesture we let pass, every look we ignore, leaves marks that can last a lifetime.
Having protocols and action plans is not enough. Documents don't embrace, don't listen, don't protect. What saves a child is that they are truly applied: intervening, accompanying, listening, adapting to each need, and not letting anyone walk alone in fear. How many children have remained silent for fear of being ignored? How many families have felt that there is no way out? Every gesture counts: a word of support, an action in time, a protocol applied with heart.
Lanzarote can be an example of safe and inclusive schools if we act together, with empathy and commitment. Because behind every protocol, every intervention, every decision, there are lives that deserve to learn, grow, and be happy... without fear, without loneliness, without silence. And we all have the responsibility to ensure that no one walks alone through fear.
