Girls take a stand against bullying

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MOSSEL BAY NEWS & VIDEO - Five young ladies at Sao Bras High School seem to have their stories straight regarding voicing their opinions on bullying, thanks to more than just their recent participation in the Western Cape Education Department's anti-bullying campaign.

As it turns out, each of them have a testimony regarding the effects of this abominable trend.

In light of National Children's Day tomorrow, 4 November, they shared some of their hard-earned wisdom.

Forgiveness was my breakthrough
Moleboheng (Lebo) Maphakiza, a Grade 10 learner, earned the top position in the speech category.

Her hassles, she says, started in primary school and followed her since.

She was teased for looking too much like a boy and ultimately, her sexual orientation became the focus of her peers' abuse.

"Nobody accepted me for who I was." She spoke to teachers, but it didn't help, as it seemed no one understood how she felt.

Feeling drained, depressed, not wanting to attend school anymore in order to avoid the bullies, she dabbled with dangerous habits to escape the harsh reality of abuse.

"It didn't work out for me." Always having had a love for public speaking, Lebo was exposed to many motivational video clips.

Soon she realised she had a familiar story that, if told, could be life changing to someone suffering the same way as she.

From left: Vanessa Cupido, Kayree Erasmus, Moleboheng Maphakiza, Julianda Pitso and Vinolia Snoek.

"When the speech competition came up, I thought this was my chance to have my voice heard. And when I got on to that stage, it was as if a voice told me inside: 'Lebo, this is your time' and I simply spoke from the heart, because it was all true. It was all there; it wasn't made up."

She says winning was immaterial. What mattered was having her voice heard.

"People connected with my story, because it wasn't just words. It was power."

To her, the highlight of her speech, was when she spoke about forgiveness.

"I was angry, but I had to do something. The hardest thing of all. I had to forgive them regardless of what they put me through.

I had to make peace with my hurtful past. Being hateful is like carrying a burden. Forgiveness was my only breakthrough."

Lebo has been asked to be the guest speaker at Erika Primary School's prize giving, to deliver her award-winning speech.

"People have perceptions. I cannot change them, but I cannot let that keep me from living my life."

Pen mightier than sword
Vinolia Snoek, Kayree Erasmus, Julianda Pitso and Vanessa Cupido penned award-winning narrative essays on bullying.

Speaking from different perspectives, one having been a bully and the other being a victim of bullying, Julianda Pitso and Vinolia Snoek, arrived at the same conclusion: bullying should have no place in society.

"Don't be a victim; be a victor," was Vinolia's message. Julianda said after being exposed as a bully, her eyes opened to the horrible effect she was having on a friend she ended up bullying.

"My friend feared me. I never want to let anyone feel like that again."