TRUpers: Rewards for do-gooders in anti-bullying drive

At a secondary school in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal, a girl sits slumped in the schoolyard dirt while a schoolmate beats and kicks her in the head.

In Zeerust, in North West, a 17-year-old Grade 10 pupil stabs a teacher to death for not allowing him to jump the food queue.

More recently, in February, a group of pupils aged 15 to 18 beat a young man to death, then filmed themselves dragging his limp body through the streets of their town in Limpopo. Bullying, crime and violence have become commonplace in schools and not a week goes by without a fresh and even more alarming incident being aired on social media platforms, much to the disbelief and outrage of audiences.

But what is the root of this violent behaviour among school-age kids and what can we, as a society, do about it? Marketing manager of Toys R Us and Babies R Us South Africa Nicole Jansen van Vuuren believes we can change the way teenagers and adults behave by instilling a sense of respect, goodwill and kindness during their formative years.

To this end, the chain has launched their TRUper campaign to encourage children at schools in Johannesburg, Cape Town and KwaZulu-Natal to carry out more good deeds. Jansen van Vuuren said: “This [sense of goodwill] is so important and really begins with manners and being exposed to good and positive initiatives.” TRUper encourages being a good person which, ultimately, ties into an anti-bullying drivers

Now in its fourth year, the TRUper campaign calls for annual nominations from school teachers and peers to recognise a child each month who exemplifies the qualities of a do-gooder. The campaign then gives a R500 gift voucher to the TRUper ambassadors, as well as a certificate of honour and an official TRUper cap and badge.

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