Empathy central in anti-bullying campaign
In an inspiring display of empathy and compassion, the learners at Oakhill College held a week-long anti-bullying awareness campaign from 16 to 20 October. This initiative, organised in collaboration with Rotary's anti-bullying initiative, aimed to raise awareness about the harmful effects of bullying and empower students to create a safer and more inclusive school environment.
The campaign marked the culmination of a year-long series of anti-bullying initiatives and was designed to be an interactive experience for all the students.
Throughout the week, students participated in various activities such as making posters to display around school as well as committing to doing random acts of kindness.
The anti-bullying theme was carried through to the school assembly on Wednesday 18 October and saw the Oakhill Student Representative Council pay tribute to a number of school children around the world who had lost their lives due to bullying.
Empathy was one of the central points of the campaign. Students were urged to put themselves in other people's shoes in order to have a better understanding of the agony and sorrow that bullying causes.
In addition, Emma Sadleir, founder of The Digital Law Company and an expert on social media law in South Africa, gave a presentation at Oakhill School on Wednesday 18 October, as part of the anti-bullying campaign week. Sadleir covered various topics including the legal risks of posting on social media, defamation in the digital realm, safeguarding privacy, and the impact of social media on children's well-being.
She also provided parents with online tools to protect their children's safety and highlighted the power of knowing one's rights in navigating social media, as well as using the law to combat negative online behaviour.