Power in Whangarei Tu Toa bullying message

IN OCTOBER 2013, my daughter was beaten up by a bully in Whangarei's Forum North carpark.

It was an awful, emotional experience for her. And for her family.

On Thursday, August 13, there was more emotion as my family reflected on that night. This time though, the emotion came from a positive that has emerged.

On August 13, the Tu Toa (Stand Tall) bullying awareness and prevention project launched four educational videos that will be available soon (we'll let you know as soon as they are) on YouTube or Facebook.

Tu Toa is a project that has been developed by the Whangarei Youth Space.

Back in 2013, the Youth Space was just getting started.

I accidentally started something as well, when I wrote about my daughter's experience and struck a nerve with readers who began to share their own bullying stories. Many involved children and teenagers.

So how to educate kids about bullying?

Lou Davis from Te Ora Hou offered invaluable advice. If you want to communicate with youth, the message is far more powerful coming from youth.

I passed Lou's wisdom on to Ryan Donaldson, from the Youth Space, which at the time was being challenged with finding a project that resulted in positive change for youth.

We had a community saying "no" to bullying involving young people - the Youth Space took on the wero (challenge).

The response was Tu Toa (Stand Tall) - conceived and created by young people.
Tu Toa's messages are spread through music and film.

I watched and listened at the Tu Toa launch and felt immensely proud. Not just because of my daughter's connection with Tu Toa.

Because anyone who has said "no" to bullying is connected to Tu Toa.

The pride came from seeing what the Youth Space had created. How our community had responded to a challenge.

It was powerful. It was intelligent. It was entertaining. It was educational. It was emotional. There were tears.

For some young people who watch these videos, it will be life changing. For adults, it will change your attitudes toward youth, it will alter your prejudices.

I believe Tu Toa is going to win awards and gain national and possibly international recognition.

Which will be nice, of course. But not why the Whangarei Youth Space did it.

Tu Toa will change people's attitudes - and not just young people's attitudes about bullying. Adults will change their views about bullying. And their attitudes toward youth. I know I have.

There is now a new challenge for Tu Toa - to spread these messages, to put them in front of every young person in Northland.

I wish them well on the journey, it too will be a success.