According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 19% of students aged 12 to 18 in the United States experienced school violence during the 2021–2022 academic year.

Forms of school bullying include verbal bullying (name-calling, teasing, insults, threats), physical bullying (hitting, pushing, kicking, damaging possessions, spitting), cyberbullying (sending hurtful messages, posting harmful content, online harassment), social bullying (spreading rumors, excluding someone, public humiliation), coercion and extortion (forcing someone to do something against their will or demanding money or belongings).

Children who were bullied during their school years have been reported to suffer negative effects in the following area:

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also reported that children who experienced school bullying during adolescence are more likely to experience depression and anxiety in adulthood.

This underscores the importance of school bullying prevention efforts.

To raise awareness of the growing and increasingly severe issue of bullying and to help children develop healthy behavior, the Eastern U.S. Chapter of the International WeLoveU Foundation (Hereinafter referred to as WeLoveU) is conducting anti-bullying programs that teach appropriate responses and promote positive values.

WeLoveU’s Anti-Bullying Campaign With Community Partnerships

There is an African proverb: “It takes a village to raise a child.”

This highlights that raising children is a shared responsibility involving the entire community—including families, schools, local communities, governments, and businesses.

On April 24, WeLoveU held the Anti-Bullying Workshop in partnership with the global pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, under the theme “Inspiring a Kinder World.”

The event took place at the AstraZeneca campus in Gaithersburg, Maryland, with around 1,200 participants, including WeLoveU members, AstraZeneca employees, and their children.

Every year, AstraZeneca hosts a “Take Your Kids to Work Day” event, offering parents and children the chance to build meaningful memories through hands-on activities.

This year, in partnership with WeLoveU, AstraZeneca introduced an interactive education program that help children learn how to respond to various forms of violence, creating a beneficial experience for both parents and kids.

WeLoveU members presented short skits representing different types of bullying to help children understand the issue more easily, and shared the message: “Even a small act of kindness can stop hatred and violence.”

Children shared their ideas for responding to school bullying:
“Telling a trusted adult 📢”
“Reaching out to lonely classmates 🎀”
“Helping friends who are vulnerable 💕”
They also sang “Speechless,” the theme song from the film Aladdin, to express their determination not to remain silent in the face of violence.

Around the campus, various activity booths offered science experiments, craft workshops, and more—sparking curiosity and joy for the children.

Creating a Kinder World Together

Experiential learning programs like this not only help prevent school bullying but also bring positive impacts such as children’s social development and well-being.

Chase Warner, Director of North America R&D Site Communications at AstraZeneca, shared: “It was an honor to join with WeLoveU today. Thanks to all of you, the event was both educational and filled with laughter. Thank you for helping us convey the importance of a world without bullying to our children.”

One AstraZeneca employee and parent commented: “The skits were fantastic. They helped my child understand the different types of violence in a fun and engaging way. She loved singing and dancing with the members. The whole event was amazing, and the message of creating a kinder worldt hrough a mother’s heart was deeply moving.”

When NGOs and businesses work together through partnership, they can fulfill their social responsibilities and create even greater synergy.

WeLoveU will continue to collaborate with like-minded organizations around the world to prevent school bullying and create a safer, kinder world for children everywhere.