Successful anti-bullying roadshow at Wendywood Primary
Vuma and The Cyberculture Foundation team up to bring vital anti-bullying conversations to Wendywood Primary, creating a lasting impact.
Wendywood Primary School became the focal point of a significant initiative aimed at tackling bullying and promoting digital wellness on February 7.
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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