Student at the Canadian University Dubai held a ? 'Stop Bullying' day to raise awareness of the issue.
Dubai, December 12, 2012: Students at the Canadian University Dubai shared their experiences with bullying at an event to raise awareness of the issue across the UAE.
During the event, Wail Huneidi, who launched the UAE's first English and Arabic anti-bullying website, took to the stage to speak about his personal experiences and to lead a discussion on bullying.
Huneidi said: "As a parent of two young children, it horrifies me that they will grow up in a world where bullying has become such a normal part of life - no-one is exempt from it. It's time for that to change."
The multi-media event saw students share songs, plays, films and speeches around their personal experiences. In the run up to the event, a YouTube video was created in which victims, and even bullies, spoke about their own experiences.
One student stated: "I used to bully a lot of kids and do bad things to a lot of people. For me it wasn't that serious but the effects of what I did were really serious. I only realized it later on in life that I really hurt people - physically, mentally and emotionally."
The University aimed to draw attention to bullying of all kinds - not just in schools and between school-kids. Iyad Jaouni, took to the stage to discuss political bullying, drawing on experience from unrest in the Middle East: "There's bullying in politics, there's bullying in school, there's bullying at work, there's bullying in many other places. If bullying was to stop, it would make a huge difference to the world. We wouldn't have so many wars, or arguments, or different opinions that result in such chaos. "
The event organizer, Dr Franziska Apprich who is Chair of the Bachelor of Arts in Communication program the University, has been overwhelmed by the response they have received from the event. "It has been an exciting journey. Before the event we held workshops for students to create their plays, speeches and films, and it has been heart- warming to see everyone come together and support each other."
Although organized by the Canadian University Dubai, schools and students from across the UAE came along to support the cause. Dr Apprich continued: "Everyone has come away from this with new friends and a better understanding of others. It is exactly what we wanted and we are hoping it will continue long after this event."
The University has close ties with anti-bullying messages as the first National Bullying Prevention Week was conceived of in Canada by Canadian educator and anti-bullying activist Bill Belsey.