Combat Bullying this National Bullying Prevention

October 9, 2024 (Nationwide)— As we recognize October as National Bullying Prevention Month, the Sikh Coalition wants to remind the sangat about the tools and resources available that have come out of our latest landmark product: Where Are You Really From?: A Sikh School Climate Report (WAYRF). 

By way of reminder, the Sikh Coalition launched Where Are You Really From? in April 2024, with findings based on the results of a survey completed by more than 2,000 U.S.-based Sikh students ages 9 to 18. The report found that nearly eight in ten (78 percent) Sikh students reported experiencing at least one incident that qualifies as bullying at school. More troubling, almost half (46 percent) of those students said that they have “never” or “almost never” reported a bullying incident, and 63 percent said that bullying in the presence of school staff went unaddressed. 

The findings of our report can’t be clearer: It is essential that we do more to make sure our youth feel safe and seen in their schools. See below for resources for you to take action and combat bullying. 

Step-by-Step Guide to Addressing Bullying

If you are concerned that your child is being bullied, know that there are many options between hoping the problem goes away on its own and filing a major lawsuit. Our step-by-step guide to navigating a bullying situation, published alongside WAYRF, helps identify what parents can do on their own and how the Sikh Coalition can help along the way.

Webinar Recording About Local Advocacy for Parents and Sangat 

On September 14, Sikh Coalition hosted a webinar to teach the sangat how to testify at school board meetings to combat bullying of Sikh youth. If you did not have a chance to attend the webinar, you can learn about the findings and recommendations from WAYRF as well as the steps to take to attend a school board meeting here. 

Campaigns to Combat Bullying on the Federal and State Level 

Students, parents, and other sangat members can help advocate against bullying on the federal level by Supporting the Safe Schools Improvement Act and at the state level by contacting your elected state officials about an anti-bullying taskforce. Learn more and take action here under the ‘Get Involved’ tab.

Updated Sikh Awareness Presentation and other Resources

Sikh Awareness Presentations are a critical way to share essential information about Sikhs and Sikhi with not just classrooms, but also private employers, interfaith groups, government agencies, and more. The Sikh Coalition has recently updated and expanded our Sikh Awareness Presentation deck, with new designs and additional scripting. View the deck here, and find all of our other educational resources (including lesson plans and more) here.

As always, the Sikh Coalition urges you to practice your faith fearlessly.