Meadowlands learners march to raise awareness against bullying
Tsosanang Day Care Pre-School and Palesa Primary School learners held an anti-bullying march on September 5 to promote kindness, early intervention, and safer learning environments in their community.
Two Meadowlands schools, Tsosanang Day Care Pre-School (TDCPS) and Palesa Primary School (PPS), hosted an anti-bullying event on September 5.
The learners marched with placards from TDCPS to PPS to showcase their stance against bullying and raise awareness in the community.
“Bullying starts as early as pre-school, and this awareness initiative was aimed at creating a safer and more inclusive environment.
“It was also dedicated to early childhood development and learning in our communities,” said the TDCPS principal, Nthabiseng Babedi.
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“Bullying is very common because it happens even at daycare. Because it starts early, it can be stopped early. Bullying is a silent killer and needs to be brought to the attention of the community, learners, teachers, and parents.
“I thank the stakeholders and everyone who supported us to put a stop to this social ill,” said Babedi.
FAMSA and Just Footprints Foundation (JFF) played educational games and conducted activities with the learners, which passed on knowledge and were designed to empower and foster supportive relationships.
Riana Scheepers, volunteer coordinator at JFF said: “We deal with supporting children with disabilities and serious illnesses in ways that make them feel like children again.
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“However, today we supported the PPS anti-bullying campaign because we promote kindness. Bullying is absolutely not okay, and we need to change that culture through such campaigns.”
Head of Department (HOD) for the Foundation Phase at PPS, Berlina Dlodlo, was glad that the social ill of bullying is being exposed in the community, as it starts from an early age and takes place in schools. She added that learners have been encouraged to speak up and know what bullying entails, and they can report it to the teachers.
