UNICEF Oman calls for end to school bullying on International Friendship Day

UNICEF Oman shared a message by the organisation’s global executive director Henrietta Fore, who has called for an end to bullying in schools and for children to show appreciation to each other on International Friendship Day.

“School is usually the first opportunity many of us have to make friends,” said Henrietta Fore. “Yet with one in three students aged 13 to 15, experiencing bullying, for so many people, school can be a scary place. Young people are calling for change, they are calling for respect, they are calling for support, they are calling for kindness, so let’s follow their lead this International Friendship Day.

“Leave a kind note for someone, online or in person, and share the note using #ENDViolence,” she added. So here’s mine: you inspire me! By being kind, children and other young people can show their support for each other and brighten someone’s day. Your words and actions make a difference. This International Friendship Day, let’s choose respect, support, kindness. For every child, let’s end violence.”

A statement from UNICEF Oman said, “Ending violence against children will take the active participation of all of us including civil society, government, private sector, media, (and you!) to promote community outreach, support and raise awareness!”

UNICEF added: “Have you ever felt afraid of violence in or around your school? We asked this question to teens around the world and received more than a million responses. Two out of three of you said yes. But many of you also believe that ending violence in schools is possible, and you told us how. Through the youth-written #ENDviolence Youth Manifesto, teens around the world agreed: Being kind is the first step to making schools safer”

UNICEF’s message comes just a few days after Oman’s Ministry of Social Development held an exhibition featuring various mental health volunteer groups in Oman, asking people to come forward if they had any concerns about mental ailments in their efforts to build a more inclusive society and tackle any social stigmas that people might have towards mental health issues.
 

Photo by - UNICEF

“We were trying to raise more awareness of mental health and its importance. This event was organised by the Ministry of Social Development and had many volunteer organisations” said Rawan Al Mujaini, a volunteer from the Psychology of Youth Team Oman, one of the organisations present. “It was a great opportunity to the team to explain what our goals were and how we could help them, in terms of mental health, where they can get help, areas they can reach for special education, and see if anyone would have any questions for us.

“As a team, we aim to raise awareness towards mental health in general,” she added. “I think exhibitions like this one are great for people to spread awareness, and volunteer groups in Oman also do this by organising workshops and going to schools and colleges to spread insights. Through interactions with the community, we developed Wahaj Oman, a website that provides resources for parents when it comes to handling mental health.”

Al Mujaini also shed light on future plans for her organisation with regards to spreading awareness on mental health.

“We want to get together speicalists so that we can help advance the field in Oman, because it is still relatively new, and we want to cooperate with institutions so that we can further develop mental health in Oman,” she said. “Exhibitions help make people aware of the voluntary services that are available in their areas, and where they can go for help. There is help available. You might not know where to seek it, but resources are always available to help people, and there are lots of specialists available to help them, either voluntarily or professionally.”