Canadian Red Cross’s RespectED Program
 
“You’re stupid, you’re ugly.” Everyday in our community, children experience intimidation, degradation, and cruelty at the hands of a bully. And while many feel that bullying is just part of being a kid, bullying has been shown to lead to long term problems including drug and alcohol abuse, suicide, and other harmful behaviour.

“For too long, bullying has been dismissed as a normal, harmless part of growing up. But something that deeply scars so many lives cannot be dismissed as just ‘kids stuff’,” says Sue Fitzgerald, Community Services Coordinator for the United Way funded program, RespectED.

The RespectED program, run through the Canadian Red Cross, provides services to youth and those that work with youth to promote healthy relationships and end the cycle of violence that is associated with bullying. The program offers facilitation of “It’s Not You’re Fault” presentations that teach children how to recognize different forms of abuse and where to go for help if they or someone they know is being bullied. “Bullies need an audience,” notes Fitzgerald. “Statistics have shown that when a friend steps in, bullying stops about 50 per cent of the time in 10 seconds or less.” RespectED has also begun offering seminars to parents and educators on cyber bullying, a growing issue facing youth.

Fitzgerald comments on how essential United Way funding is to the continuation of the RespectED program, “Our United Way funding enables us to recruit, train, and screen our volunteers. This program depends on strong volunteers who are highly trained to deal with the sensitive issues associated with bullying.”

“We’re really making a difference in this community,” comments Fitzgerald, who recalls a recent presentation in which a 12 year old boy expressed how the presentation helped him raise his self esteem in order to deal with a bully. “We are getting the message out there that, when you’re bullied, it’s not your fault. We’re teaching our kids that we’re here to help.”