Some 2,500 grade school students from all over Oahu learned that bullying is a form of violence and how to help stop it Thursday at the first Student Anti-Bullying and Violence Convention, held by the nonprofit Adult Friends for Youth.
Evangelist Nick Vujicic, who was born with no arms or legs and has been a victim of bullying, made an impromptu 15-minute appearance at the end of the morning convention at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Vujicic is conducting his own anti-bullying campaign on a three-week tour to 18 Hawaii schools.
Hawaii Ironworkers Local 625 sponsored the convention in partnership with the City and County of Honolulu and the attorney general’s office. Other featured speakers included Wil Okabe, Hawaii State Teachers Association president; Allan Silva, director of Farrington High School’s Aloha Learning Center; Ernie Martin, City Council chairman; and Mel Kahele and Junior Ah You of the Ironworkers Local. Da Braddahs & Friends and Rebel Souljahz provided entertainment.
The goal of the convention was to raise awareness about "the severity of bullying that occurs on many school campuses and communities in Hawaii, including cyber-bullying through the use of electronic devices," according to a news release by Adult Friends for Youth, whose motto is "Helping children and youth believe that they matter."
Students in fourth through seventh grade were taught how to recognize various degrees of bullying and how to respond appropriately, and were encouraged "to reach out to their fellow students with respect, empathy and compassion, and love and acceptance," the release said.
Schools that participated included August Ahrens Elementary, Honowai Elementary, Waipahu Elementary, Dole Middle, Kaewai Elementary, Kalihi Elementary, Kalihi Waena Elementary, Fern Elementary, Hauula Elementary, Holomua Elementary, Kaelepulu Elementary, Kahuku Elementary and Makakilo Elementary.
