Bullying is an age-old program so why the buzz?
Imagine you are at the beach, and you notice that there is a really strong current. Those that are stronger than you, tell you to swim in because the current is so strong it’s going to pull you out to sea. You try to come in but the current is just to strong and you get stuck in the middle of the ocean. You stick up your hand for help because you know that you can’t get back to shore safely on your own. A life saver see’s you waving your hand in the distance and quickly gathers all supplies and materials that he needs to come and rescue you. He comes, grabs your hand and helps you to get on the boat. He turns the boat around, and you start riding the waves moving swiftly in the opposite direction – heading towards the shore. You reach the shore and you are so thankful that he rescued you that he saw your hand, heard your cry so that you did not drown with the current that was trying to pull you out to sea. This is exactly what it is like for your friends being bullied, they are being pulled out by a current that they feel like they have no way of escaping from. They are calling out to us for help whether in person, over social media or when you notice them being surrounded and teased on the school playground. They are calling out for us to help. At The String Movement we are the friends that gather all the supplies and tools, and take them out into the middle of the ocean. We hold out our hands to those that need our help and we take them safely back to dry ground.
According to recent studies, Pack Bullying lasts longer than any other form of Bullying because it becomes a widely accepted social practice within school communities. Our aim as The String Movement is to change the culture of Bullying within our schools by having enough String Movement advocates in each school that we rewrite the history of bullying. The String Movement believes that the more we grow as a movement in raising awareness about bullying, the greater influence we will have in dealing and solving the issue. Therefore the more that we talk about disarming bullying in our schools, our homes and our work places the quicker we will gather together as a force to see it eradicated and dissolved from our communities. History tells us that there is power unity, in a movement working together around a common cause. At the heart of The String Movement we believe that we can make a difference that changes the culture of our society and ultimately reshapes and changes the actions of others in our world. Statistics say that there are over 160,000 young people that choose to stay home from school each day because of bullying. These are our friends that need our help. There reality could change through one kind action or by a String Movement presentation you choose to do in your school to raise awareness. Your friends need us to not give up on them, to give them a helping hand and to reach out empowered to make a difference in the midst of their impossibility.
We all have the opportunity to build a better and safe place for those who are to come by being the change we want to see in the world each and every single day.
If you would like to start The String Movement in your community and want to find out more information about how you can get involved please email: [email protected]
Please contact the below organisations if you are struggling with Bullying or if you have questions about how to cope with it in your world.
Lifeline: 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
#BEKIND # DISARMBULLYING
Aug 1 2014
