New approach to bullying: Emotional skills replace discipline in South African schools

As South African schools face an alarming rise in bullying and violence among learners, one non-profit is rethinking how the problem is addressed - starting from the inside out.

The Thrive Initiative (NPO) has just trained its first cohort of 10 youth facilitators from Nyanga, Cape Town, to pioneer a somatically based intervention that could soon be rolled out to schools and communities across the country.

“Bullying doesn’t occur in isolation  - it’s a symptom, not the cause,” says Brian Segal, founder of the Thrive Initiative. “It often reflects unprocessed stress and pain from social, economic and family pressures. Many learners are simply mirroring what they experience at home.”

Rather than relying on punishment, Thrive’s approach focuses on teaching self-awareness, emotional regulation and healthy communication. The method is rooted in somatic healing, which helps release stress stored in the body’s nervous system to restore calm and behavioural balance.

“When you reprimand a bully, you add to their internal tension, which often triggers more outbursts,” explains Segal. “But if you give them tools to express and manage those feelings safely, real change follows.”

The newly trained Thrive Initiators - aged 20 to 24 - are now equipped to facilitate workshops in schools, youth groups and workplaces, teaching practical tools to manage stress, build empathy and resolve conflict constructively. Their work also extends to tackling gender-based violence, relationship challenges and community pressure, while nurturing local leadership and entrepreneurship.

“Our Nyanga cohort represents the next generation of community leaders,” says Segal. “They’ll not only help reduce violence and bullying in schools, but also grow as financial and social entrepreneurs, building a resilient ecosystem from within.”