Dubai: In every step they took and every move they made, there was an underlying message. A message that they cared, a message that they are aware and strong.
Delhi Private School (DPS) Dubai on Thursday kick-started a campaign against bullying in schools, following a rise in such cases recently.
The campaign involves a series of flash-mobs in malls and schools, organised and enacted by DPS Dubai students.
The first of the series of flash-mobs took place in Burjuman on Thursday while the second was held in Oasis Centre on Friday. The caravan will next week move to Dubai Mall as well as couple of other schools.
On the face of it, the students — around 70 of them — were dancing, singing and jumping around but more significantly they were saying no to bullying in their own unique way.
From the costumes they wore to the lyrics they chose, were all implying one and only thing — that they have zero tolerance for bullying.
Talking about the concept of the show and the need to create greater awareness on the subject, DPS Dubai principal Rashmi Nandkeolyar said that bullying is not confined to schools alone and that is the reason why the school chose to bring the event to public places.
“Bullying happens everywhere and is not confined to schools only, but since a lot of cases come out from schools we associate it with schools. From my understanding it happens everywhere, at workplaces, homes, streets as well as schools. Children pick it up from the elders, so we need to create awareness about the issue among the elders as well,” said Nandkeolyar.
The message that the school is trying to send across is “neither get bullied nor bully others.”
“We have zero tolerance for bullying and we want to tell people that if you are a victim than stand against it and if you bully others then you should be aware that your act is wrong and won’t be tolerated,” she added.
She feels involving children in such activities helps them to galvanise against the vice which is a reality.
“Bullying is an ugly reality and it hurts in individual emotionally. It could start from something funny like teasing but on many occasions it takes an ugly turn resulting in violence, so we have to address the root cause by involving children through the way they prefer, like singing and dancing,” said Sauda Shawkat, mother of a 13-year-old boy.
Like all flash mobs, the event was not announced to public, but as the colourful mob of students, teachers and parents joined at the centre court of Burjuman, it instantly attracted a crowd of shoppers, curious to know what’s happening.
By the look of it, they certainly enjoyed the show but more importantly they went back home with a message in their hearts and minds.
Several cases of bullying and violence have come to light in the last couple of months causing serious injury to victims. A verdict is still pending against aggressors in the case of Loujain Hussain who was in a coma for weeks after being beaten by a group of boys.
