With anti-bullying week coming to a close, these are some of the ways young people have redefined safe spaces in South Africa.
South Africa (15 November 2024) – As Anti-Bullying Week unfolded, young people across South Africa worked to address bullying and foster safe, inclusive environments. Bullying, which takes many forms — verbal, physical, emotional, and online — continues to affect countless youths in schools and workplaces, impacting mental health, self-esteem, and personal development.
Bullying is particularly concerning in schools, where students frequently report experiencing or witnessing harassment from peers. More than 3.2 million learners are bullied yearly, while more than 67% of victims will not ask a teacher for help because they don’t believe it will change their situation.
Unfortunately, the digital era has introduced new forms of bullying. As young people spend more time online, and social media and messaging platforms increase, it follows that the avenues for harassment grow. This has created a need for strategies that address both in-person and virtual bullying.
Fortunately, movements against these occurrences are picking up momentum as young South Africans engage in efforts to recognise and address bullying. By learning to identify both overt and subtle forms of bullying, they’re equipping themselves with the tools to stand up to negative behaviour. Campaigns that focus on bystander intervention are helping students and young professionals understand how to safely intervene when they see bullying happening.
Making a difference
Programmes like school-led workshops, where students share their own experiences with bullying, have been instrumental. These workshops create open spaces for discussing the impact of bullying and give learners tools to support one another. Peer-led conversations are powerful because they can make it easier for students to come forward if they are affected.
Initiatives such as the impact-driven collaboration between Relate Bracelets and Outward Bound South Africa (OBSA) are designed to tackle pressing social challenges like violence, bullying and gender-based violence (GBV). This initiative reflects Relate’s mission to use partnerships to drive social change.
The bracelets have become a powerful symbol of solidarity against bullying and violence. Worn by young South Africans, it promotes safe and inclusive spaces across schools, communities, and workplaces. Relate Bracelets leads the way in creating cause-driven collaborations for change. Each bracelet is designed not only to raise awareness but also to generate funding for educational and social initiatives that need funds to keep doing meaningful work.
Proceeds from each bracelet sold support anti-bullying and anti-violence programmes, thus empowering individuals to stand together, call out harmful behaviour, and create networks of empathy and care.
“The GBV bracelet is more than just a wrist accessory; it’s a rallying symbol for building communities where kindness and respect thrive,” says Dalit Shekel, CEO of Relate Bracelets.
Wearing the bracelet empowers young people to visibly support a community-wide stand against violence and bullying, aligning with Relate’s broader goal of creating meaningful impact through socially conscious collaborations. The impact of this work is clear because OBSA’s data shows that since its inception, its work has reached 65,000 participants, trained 200 instructors and partnered with 125 schools.
Beyond the numbers, OBSA is able to facilitate conversations about respect, boundaries and kindness outside of classrooms and playgrounds – and into what feels like the real world for many students. Raising conversations around bullying in outdoor spaces can help students be more aware of how their actions make others feel and help them see why trust can be made or lost because of how they treat others.
Kindness, empathy and respect
By turning products into catalysts for change, Relate Bracelets reinforces its commitment to addressing critical social challenges through impactful partnerships.
Support networks — whether friends, family, or community groups — are essential for those affected by bullying. Schools and workplaces are increasingly offering support programmes that provide resources for young people to cope with the effects of bullying, including access to counselling and peer support.
Beyond combating bullying, young South Africans are also facilitating inclusive spaces. By promoting kindness, respect, and empathy, young South Africans are creating environments where everyone feels valued. Schools and workplaces are organising kindness campaigns and community events that encourage positive interactions and discourage bullying behaviours. These activities allow participants to experience firsthand the impact of inclusivity and support.
“It’s a visible reminder of our shared responsibility to treat each other with kindness,” adds Shekel.
Anti-Bullying Week serves as an important reminder that creating safe and respectful environments is a collective effort. Through initiatives like the GBV bracelet and peer-led programmes, young South Africans are demonstrating their commitment to standing against bullying and building a culture that values kindness and respect. By working together, they are helping to create a future where bullying is no longer tolerated and everyone can feel safe, whether in school, at work, or online.
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