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Students Who Were Bullied Can Make a Big Difference, Let Them Share Their Stories

R ecently, I was browsing the internet looking for research on anti-bullying programs, especially ones that aren't well known in the occidental. By chance, I came across a YouTube video that truly touched my heart. It inspired me to write this blog and reflect on what I saw.

The video was an episode from the show What Would You Do?, featuring a special segment called What Would Kids Do?. In this episode, two actors staged a bullying scenario in a public space: one played the bully, and the other, the victim. Unknowing children, brought there by their parents who were in on the setup, witnessed the situation while hidden cameras recorded their reactions.

What stood out to me was how confidently and compassionately these children responded. They stood up for the victim, saying things like “You can’t call someone a loser,” or “That’s not nice.” Some offered comfort, others confronted the bully directly. Each child showed strength and empathy, without knowing it was all just a simulation.

Interestingly, most of the kids who stood up had experienced bullying themselves in the past. They knew what it felt like to be picked on, to feel isolated or humiliated. And that experience gave them the courage to act. In many cases, their brave response made the bully back down and gave the “victim” (played by an actor) a sense of hope, that someone cared, that someone would stand up for them.

Watching this made me realize just how important the role of the bystander is in stopping bullying. We often focus only on the bully and the victim, but bystanders, especially those who have experienced bullying themselves, can be powerful allies in creating a safer environment.

That’s why I believe we should encourage students who have been bullied to share their stories during class discussions or school activities. Their voices can help others understand the emotional impact of bullying, and they can offer real advice on what helped them and what didn’t.

Kids typically know more than we give them credit for. And maybe the key to preventing bullying lies with them, if we simply take the time to listen.

Here's the link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MyJ7oJ_dUg. I encourage everyone to watch it, it's truly heartwarming to see how children respond to bullying with courage, confidence  and kindness.



Eldoune C.


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