Emma McGaffney tells her story to radio host Justin “Drex” Wilcomes during CKNW Orphans’ Fund Pledge Day in Vancouver
“My experience with bullying no longer affects me,” says Emma McGaffney, who went through teasing, name calling and exclusion in elementary school that got even worse in middle school. Fortunately, Emma was introduced to the Canadian Red Cross’
Beyond the Hurt program by her grade 9 teacher, Joni Blaxland.
Beyond the Hurt supports a school-wide or organization-wide approach to preventing bullying and building empathy and respect. It gives youth and adults the tools to stop bullying before it starts. Blaxland brought the training to her school and prepared youth facilitators to deliver Beyond the Hurt workshops. Students like Emma who took the facilitator training are now able to teach other students how they can use their personal power to resolve and prevent bullying.
Emma is a strong believer in the program’s unique approach to bullying prevention. “They don’t refer to the bully as the ‘bully’ but rather a ‘person who bullies.’ That gives you the power to move beyond the label that others give you.”
Emma says having students teach their peers opens up opportunities that may not exist if the program was taught by adults. “I met a girl in grade 5 who was going through the same things I did at that age. I could see the way it was controlling her life, as it once had mine. I was able to tell her the things I wish someone would have told me when I was younger.”
Over 80% of the time, bullying happens to youth with their peers around. About 57% of the time, bullying stops when a bystander intervenes. Show us that you won’t tolerate bullying on
Pink Shirt Day this Feb. 24. Wear a CKNW Orphans’ Fund official pink shirt, button or pin to support Red Cross’ Beyond the Hurt program in B.C. and make it your priority to stop bullying!