Shopping for school supplies, ironing uniforms, and setting alarms: these activities are the main focus of most Egyptian families during this time of the year. With back-to-school season upon us, and parents psychologically rolling their sleeves for a year brimming with classes and homework, many fear for their youngsters’ mental wellbeing. For children, formative school years can often be looked back on as ‘golden’ years, or ‘the best time of their lives’, but they can also often be perceived as a temporal blackspot in the memory of many due to experiences of bullying. Bullying has been a constant issue in most schools, whether physically, emotionally, verbally, or online. In 2018, UNICEF revealed that 70 percent of Egyptian children aged 13-15 are victims of bullying, following which, Egypt approved draft amendments to criminalize bullying. Luckily, there have been numerous campaigns as well as individual efforts in recent years to eradicate bullying. In 2018, Egypt launched its first national campaign urging children, parents, and caregivers to speak up against bullying, and sharing tips and advice on ways to counter bullying. Several artists supported the month-long campaign under the slogan #ImAgainstBullying, including Egyptian…
