Blue and white Valentine’s Day against bullying
"Days such as Valentine's Day can be used to encourage children to spread love."
Ipeleng Cares Foundation is urging schools to use significant days such as Valentine’s Day on school calendars not only as a fundraising opportunity, but also to promote kindness, love and respect.
Monday, February 14 Fleurhof Primary School celebrated a blue and white Valentine’s Day to promote anti-bullying from Grade 1 to 7.
The Grade 1 to 3s participated in a ‘good behaviour’ pledge in blue and white, and the Grade 4 to 7s spent two days getting to know their classmates, and then created a poem of kindness about each other.
“We have adopted a blue and white Valentine’s Day in support of survivors of bullying.
“Days such as Valentine’s Day can be used to encourage children to spread love, and to focus on forging new friendships instead of creating superficial competitions between children such as best Valentine’s baskets or best-dressed learner.
“We can help change the narrative and help children understand that the root of overcoming bullying is love, care and kindness towards others,” said founder of the Ipeleng Cares Foundation (ICF), Ipeleng Mofokeng.
ICF is excited to announce an influential collaboration with Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) District 12, Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD), the Police, Department of Health, Department of Social Development, Scholar Transport Association and many other stakeholders who have joined them to provide an all-round school safety programme.
The programme is facilitated by the GDE, and between six and eight schools are visited per month.
“All stakeholders are taking a firm stance to promote school safety and ensure the overall well-being of learners.
“If your child is getting bullied or you want to learn more about bullying, feel free to email us today at ipelengcares@gmail.com or WhatsApp 073 911 5460 (09:00 and 15:00),” said Ipeleng.
Here are some tips from ICF on how to spend Valentine’s Day with learners at schools:
• ‘Write a friendship poem’ class challenge. This challenge encourages care between friends and allow children to become creative and expressive. A teacher can shine a light on friends and encourage friendships between classmates.
• ‘Friendship posters’ challenge. Like a friendship poem, friendship posters can help children express themselves. Posters may include pictures of each friend, a short message of love and care, and a friendship pledge.
• ‘How well do you know your classmate’ challenge. This challenge is an opportunity for children to get to know their classmates better. One of the leaders against bullying shared that through sports she was coupled with her classmate of four years and she got to spend more time with him and only got to know him better now. She realised that they had so much in common and she learnt interesting things about him that she never would have known if it wasn’t for this grouping. One could say a new friendship was forged from this encounter.
• ‘Class good behaviour pledge’ challenge. Valentine’s Day was at the start of the new year and first term, so what better way to get a new grade to commit to a good behaviour pledge than on Valentine’s Day?
