How Facebook hopes to beat the bullies in schools

Dubai: A new global Facebook campaign has a simple, but hard-hitting message: Bullying has to stop.

Started by US-based John Follis called TheBullyVideoProject, it is based on the belief that “there are millions of kids who hate bullying and want to help stop it”.

Launched three weeks ago, the posts include short 45-second grabs featuring pupils who urge others to stand up, “say something” and not “go along because it is easy to”.

The page shows how people can create videos and be a part of grassroots change.

Follis is an advertising and marketing professional, who has worked with The National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse in the US.

According to the page description, the project aims to collect videos created by students that will be shared and promoted on multiple social media channels.

Hazingprevention.org and other sites focusing on the issue say that nearly 50 per cent of schoolgoing children have experienced bullying at some point.

Child Helpline International, based in Amsterdam, is a network of government and social organisations, operating 173 child helplines in 142 countries around the world. In the past 10 years it has built up a database with details of over 126 million contacts by children and adults on behalf of young people.

The organisation states on its website: “Nine out of ten cases of bullying reportedly take place at school (88 per cent) and another 4 per cent in playgrounds. Almost 88 per cent of girls and 80 per cent boys said that they faced bullying at school.”

In April 2012, 11-year-old Loujain Hussain was savagely bullied by a group of boys on the playground. They were from the same school in Abu Dhabi. The report shocked the nation. Many raised the issue of hazing and how it needs to stop, However, it continues to be a problem.

Shafelyn Chu, mother of 13-year-old Santiago Enrique studying in the UAE, has been finding it difficult to cope with the bullying her son faces at school.

She told Gulf News: “Being a parent, it makes me sad. My son had a hard time when he was bullied, and other students would make faces and sneer at him. He has started telling me that if someone bullies me, I will fight.”

Last year Santiago stood up against bullying, which ended in a fight and suspension. Chu has tried to talk to a few teachers, but the problem persists.

She said: “It’s worse now ... because when I talk to the teachers, they discuss this in front of the class and my son feels humiliated.”

Fozia Imran, with 15 years experience as an educator, said that bullying is a problem in all schools.

She often helps out bullied pupils. “If the pupil pretends that it does not bother him or her, bullies will back off. I tell them to believe in themselves and be strong ... they [bullies] have nothing better to do and they overcome their own weaknesses by highlighting yours.”

She said TheBully VideoProject will help both bullies and those being bullied.

“Some pupils don’t realise that they are bullying, they just need to see and realise how damaging their behaviour is to others.”

Samina Kausar, a lecturer based in Fujairah, is of a similar opinion. “It’s [TheBullyVideoProject] a great effort. Students should have a platform to share their worries and they should speak freely without any fear or pressure.”

She said that the page will help students understand their rights. “Students go to school to fulfil their dreams, and they get disheartened because of these kind of negative things happening to them.”

Kausar added that in her experience bullying makes students feel insecure and sometimes it leads to depression. They decide to quit school or college.

When Kausar sees a student being hazed, she makes sure to take corrective action and assure the victim that “the guilty will be punished”. And plans to use the Facebook campaign as a tool in her fight against bullying.

Thirteen-year-old Kehkashan Basu, a grade eight student from Dubai, plans to do the same. She said that bullying occurs everywhere, especially in parks and play areas.

“A bully becomes stronger and more brazen if the victims do not speak out about it. So this Facebook page will help expose this major social issue.

“As children, we are vulnerable and support is required from parents, teachers and counsellors.”

Tarek Bandali, a 15-year-old 11th grader at Deira International School said that bullying in the UAE manifests as “verbal abuse, name-calling and neglect.”

He said: “I was an introverted, overweight child, so I faced frequent verbal abuse. Fortunately I had some great friends and the issue never became big, but I recognise how lucky I was to be protected by them.”

For some it has been a tougher journey. Twenty six-year old Nikko J. Bacason faced severe bullying as a pupil. He told Gulf News: “I had a stammering problem, and this was the reason my classmates used to mock me.

“It took me a lot of time and effort. At college I tried to develop self confidence, mixed with new people, made friends and overcame the stress I had faced.”

For students who face bullying, he has a message: “Be strong, stand up against it, don’t let others disrespect you ... keep your parents informed, so they can help you.” The very same message that TheBullyVideoProject communicates.