PARTI Program Names DeAnza Football Player As Campus Ambassador for Bullying Prevention

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Oct. 19, 2018 - PRLog -- Taimane Ashby created a Bullying Prevention project that encourages youth and adults to share their bullying stories through video and photo media. Taimane will film and document just how they overcame trauma and began advocating for others who need support. The PARTI Program will promote these documentary stories on their website, at community events, and at school presentations during the year.

The anxiety of being bullied is familiar to Taimane. He was the target of bullying during middle school and at that time he lacked the coping skills to deal with the situation. "I began to make the wrong choices and it was hard for me to trust adults because I never thought any of them wanted to help me", says Ashby. With the assistance of the PARTI Program, Taimane received support from caring adult mentors who provided safe opportunities for him to communicate his thoughts and feelings.

By the time Taimane reached high school, PARTI Program had introduced him to various techniques that thwart bullying tactics and verbal responses to defend character attacks. When he observed another student being bullied, Taimane supported him by saying, "I am not going to let anybody bully you again."

As a football player at Oak Grove High School, Taimane enlisted some of his teammates to participate in PARTI Program's 'Martin Luther King Jr. Stop The Violence Event' – a youth-led annual production. Agreement from the other football players made him feel encouraged that he was truly a part of a special network.

Taimane is now playing football at DeAnza College and is promoting bullying prevention and using his privilege as an athlete to tackle bullying.

PHYSICAL BULLYING
This is what most of us think of when we hear the word 'bullying'. All those images in our heads of fights on the playground or scuffles in the hall between classes fall under this category. It includes: hitting, pushing, tripping, slapping, stealing or destroying possessions, and sexual harassment or assault.

VERBAL BULLYING
Verbal bullying can be just as damaging as physical bullying. Females primarily engage in this form of bullying, though males may also use it in an attempt to dominate their victim. Kinds of verbal bullying include name calling, insults, gossip, teasing, taunting, intimidation, and sexist or racist remarks.

SOCIAL ALIENATION
Sometimes called indirect or covert bullying, this form can be more difficult to detect. It can go on behind the victim's back or can take the form of public humiliation. It includes: spreading rumors, non-inclusion, negative gestures, jokes or pranks, embarrassment or humiliation, and damaging someone's social reputation. This form can be the most emotionally damaging to its victims. They experience depression and anxiety. The psychological effects of social bullying often stick around even into adulthood.

CYBERBULLYING
This relatively new form of bullying has only recently begun to receive attention. It is a form of social bullying specifically through technology. Cyberbullies attack victims through text messages, email, websites, chat rooms, and social media sites. It reaches the victim wherever they are, and they often feel that they cannot escape.

NATIONAL STATISTICS
15% of all school absences are directly related to fears of being bullied.
20% of students report having been victims of physical bullying.
6 out of 10 teens report witnessing bullying at least once a day.
282,000 students are reportedly attacked in high school each month.
60% of middle school students say they have been bullied, while only 16% of staff believe that students are bullied.
2/3 of students who are targets of bullying become bullies.

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http://www.partiprogram.com

The mission of the P.A.R.T.I. Program (Positive Alternative Recreation Teambuilding Impact) is to promote education around youth healthy lifestyles and healthy decision making. We serve low to moderate income youth and families.

We want the next generation to imagine their bright future…
– to be in a safe environment
– to develop their individuality
– to be treated fairly and justly
– to be supported and handled with kindness
– to be encouraged emotionally and intellectually
– to be empowered to realize their full potential