Being upstanders instead of bystanders was the message from peer mentors at Waimea College last week as students took on shades of pink to raise awareness about bullying.
Pink Shirt Day is an annual nationwide event and Year 13 student and peer mentor Katelyn van Eyndhoven says people need to stand up for others being bullied.
“In high schools, so many people are involved in bullying, either watching it happen or being bullied. We want them to be upstanders instead of bystanders. If you see something happen – do something about it.
“If you just watch it happen and don’t do anything, then you are technically being a bully yourself.”
The school has recently implemented anonymous reporting for bullying, called Stymie, where she says students can report bullying if they know something is happening, without fear of being identified.
“Teachers and staff can be informed and chat to people without anyone knowing who told them, which I think means people are more inclined to say something.”
Katelyn was bullied when she was younger and those experiences drive her to support others who go through it.
“People spend so much of their time and lives at school and bullying can negatively impact their experience and grades. It can affect whether they get into university if they’re stressed out at school.”
Throughout the anti-bullying week, funds were raised for Youthline from the sale of cupcakes and a sausage sizzle, as well as students purchasing compliments for others.
