Successful anti-bullying roadshow at Wendywood Primary
Learners, educators, and parents engaged in open discussions about bullying’s emotional and digital effects during the Anti-Bullying Roadshow at Wendywood Primary.
Wendywood Primary School became the focal point of a significant initiative aimed at tackling bullying and promoting digital wellness on February 7.
Read more: A big debate on bully culture in Alexandra
In a joint effort with South Africa’s leading fibre network operator, Vuma, The Cyberculture Foundation launched its Anti-Bullying Awareness Roadshow to engage learners, educators, and parents in vital conversations and activities about bullying and its consequences.
The roadshow, aimed at addressing the emotional, physical, and digital dimensions of bullying, was designed to foster open dialogues among the school community.
Vuyiseka Klaas, the co-founder of foundation, emphasised the need for direct engagement to address the growing issue of bullying in South African schools.
“Having observed the alarming incidents of bullying and the devastating effects it has, we wanted to take a targeted approach to deal with this issue,” said Klaas.
The participants were led through interactive activities and discussions on how to identify and report bullying.
Also read: Alex nursery school learners told bullying is not cool
Guidance was provided by trained activists, such as Tshenolo Khoza, an aspiring law student from the University of Limpopo.
Khoza shared his personal experiences with bullying and encouraged learners to speak up and seek help. “Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity,” he said.
According to Klaas statistics around bullying in South African schools are alarming. More than 3.2 million learners are affected annually, with more than 67% of victims too afraid to seek help. With one in 10 learners dropping out due to bullying, and 16% experiencing cyberbullying, the impact is devastating.
In addition to the awareness activities, Vuma announced that qualifying schools would benefit from its Vuma Fibre to school programme, providing free 1Gbps fibre broadband to more than 880 schools.
This initiative not only boosts connectivity but also helps empower both learners and educators by giving them access to valuable online resources.
“We believe in using technology to create safer, more inclusive communities,” said Taylor Kwong, the head of marketing at Vuma.
Follow us on our Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok pages. Join our WhatsApp group for any story ideas you may have.
Related article: WhatsApp chat line launches to fight cyberbullying
