An anti-bullying campaign will hit the shores of Cayman next month in a bid to raise awareness and help prevent child suicide.
The “Stand for the Silent” event will welcome Americans Kirk and Laura Smalley who inspired the launch of the program after their 11-year-old son Ty Field-Smalley took his own life after years of bullying.
Students from the Oklahoma State University began the campaign as a platform for the family to share their story and offer education and tools to prevent other young tragedies.
In the past four years, the Smalley couple have spoken to more than 833,000 children, met with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the first-ever White House conference on bullying, and were featured in director Lee Hirsch’s feature film, “Bully.”
Jennifer Steele of Hurley’s Entertainment, which hosts the anti-bullying campaign “Be the Difference” in partnership with the Family Resource Centre, said she hoped Cayman would welcome and support the family and help them to experience “Caymankind.”
“Be the Difference” is an on-air campaign that hosts workshops as a forum for children to speak out in a safe environment. The workshops engage students in activities such as role playing and teaches them skills to boost their self-confidence, self-esteem and self-worth.
“Bullying has changed. It’s not writing on a locker or teasing in the school yard anymore. It’s online, it’s everywhere and they can’t escape it because it’s 24/7,” Ms. Steele said. “The workshops provide a really safe and non-judgemental environment for them.”
“Stand for the Silent” follows the cancellation of the McGee Cayman Classic that was scheduled to be held this month in honor of Caymanian student Ezra McLaughlin, a 15-year-old victim of bullying who took his own life in March last year. The event was organized by McLaughlin’s basketball coach Cory McGee but was canceled due to logistics and funding problems.
Ms. Steele said the event, scheduled to be held Oct. 20-24, was still looking for a venue.
For more information, email [email protected] or visit www.standforthesilent.org.
Related Videos
