Power to prevent bullying

Youthline Auckland celebrates Pink Shirt Day 2013

14th May 2013

Friday 17th May 2013 is Pink Shirt Day, a national campaign to raise awareness about the power everyone has to prevent and reduce bullying.

For long established youth development organisation, Youthline, this is a day to empower and inspire communities and individuals to take a stand against bullying and make positive change.

Youthline Manukau Centre Manager and Pink Shirt Day Committee Member, Hannah Sellars says bullying is a very real issue for all age ranges, particularly young people.

“Each year up to 2500 young people contact Youthline’s national 0800 helpline and free txt service for support around bullying, and there will be plenty more who haven’t yet been able to reach out.”

May 17 is also International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. To mark both occasions, guest speaker Dr Duane McWaine, the U.S Ambassadors spouse will be addressing paid and volunteer staff at youthline Central Auckland about creative solutions to grow awareness around bullying, followed by a morning tea. The Youthline Manukau team will be hosting a breakfast and of course everyone will be donning pink shirts!

Youthline is encouraging other organisations, corporate companies , community groups, schools and individuals to celebrate Pink Shirt Day.

“For workplaces it’s a great opportunity to host a breakfast for staff, review your workplace anti-bullying and complaints policy, talk to your employees about communication, and promote activities that better connect your teams. Schools might consider allowing students to wear pink shirts, or hosting a lunchtime anti bullying seminar, individuals might simply ask a mate how they’re getting on.

The point is that we’re all doing something to help create an Aotearoa where everyone feels safe, valued and respected,” says Sellars.

Youthline are also looking at how they can continue to bring this vision to life beyond Pink Shirt Day.

“We’re currently working with another organisation, Bluelight, to build a youth led anti bullying campaign – the starting point for this is a hui in June where up to 80 young people will get together to come up with some key anti bullying messages which they’ll then take back into their communities.”

ENDS

About Pink Shirt Day

An annual event celebrated throughout New Zealand and the world, Pink Shirt Day aims to create a New Zealand where all people feel safe, valued and respected.

The event began in Nova Scotia, Canada, in 2007, when a group of students stood up to defend a kid who was bullied because he was wearing a pink shirt. In a show of solidarity, many of his fellow students wore pink shirts, and PSD was born.

Pink Shirt Day in New Zealand began in 2009. SS4Q (Safety in Schools for Queers, a group made up of representatives from a number of organisations keen to work to stop the bullying of GLBTI young people in New Zealand schools) , brought it to our shores.

In 2012 The Mental Health Foundation took over the organisation of Pink Shirt Day .

Want to get involved in Pink Shirt Day?

Check out these resources to help you: http://www.pinkshirtday.org.nz/resources

Visit us on Facebook and let us know what you have planned: http://www.facebook.com/pinkshirtdayaotearoa ‘

Purchase a Mr Vintage Pink Shirt here: http://www.mrvintage.co.nz/shop/DEAL/PINK+SHIRT+DAY.html

Need some support around bullying?

Phone: 0800 37 66 33

Free Text: 234

Email: talk@youthline.co.nz

Check out Youthline information sheets on bullying here: http://www.youthline.co.nz/services/69-information-and-referrals/1171-info-sheets.html

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