WE DELIVERED JUNE 2022!
"The thoughtfulness, creativity, support and kindness…..it is overwhelming. I can’t believe how many letters are in the box!! As Sonia settled in for bedtime she shared, 'Those kids and adults are so kind - they took time to make art, pillows, write nice letters ….for me? I can’t believe it' ... Hearing her focused on positivity and gratitude instead of the bullies - priceless."
-Sonia's mom, Zoya
Over 1,000+ of your letters, videos and gifts of peer support were delivered to Sonia (13) at her home in Washington state in June 2022 to help her stay strong and gain back the hope and trust she lost after enduring severe bullying.
~ Sonia's Story ~
Kindness Ambassador (13) says "I'm not safe anywhere, not even at home" after ongoing bullying at school and online has taken her hope and trust.
Sonia is "kind, loving and intelligent" according to her mom, and loves taking care of animals, especially her bearded dragon... so cool! The 7th Grader from Washington state is passionate about marine biology and protecting the planet, and might even become an attorney for environmental conservation & preservation when she grows up. The 13-year-old excels at math and enjoys working with symbols. Also an athlete, Sonia is a soccer fan and player, and practices interpretive and rhythmic dancing. Just like every other middle school kid, she really likes anime, too.
In elementary school, Sonia was a happy student, and even joined a Kindness Ambassador Program that helped the environment and supported lonely kids. She began middle school as a virtual student due to Covid, but once she transferred in-person to the new school, she became the target of relentless bullying that she told her mom "happens all day long and I can't get a break."
Beautiful Sonia stands out as the only South Asian student at her middle school, and is called "ugly" and racial slurs by her bullies for being Asian and from India. This little girl became so traumatized that she refused to eat lunch, not wanting to remove her mask in the cafeteria, hoping to stop the bullies from making fun of her face.
At recess, kids she thought were her friends quickly became her bullies teasing, "Can I kick the ball in your face?" and commenting on her student ID card that "your skin tone doesn't work with the lighting." One classmate physically attacked her on three separate occasions, but no one stepped up to help her. Instead, other children started bullying Sonia, too, to gain approval from the main bully - a typical "social bullying" phenomenon.
After being humiliated by cyber-bullying in a Discord chat platform, the 7th Grader said, "They can talk to me anywhere." A good student known for being respectful with teachers and never disruptive, Sonia now felt unsafe at school, untrusting of both classmates and adults, and could no longer focus on her school work.
"I'm not safe anywhere. Not even at home," Sonia expressed.
A YOUTUBE INTRODUCTION OF SONIA by our On-Air Super Teen Ambassador, Brielle Withers, is a good choice for young students to learn her story:
Sweet Sonia courageously opened up to her mom about losing hope that things would get better, and feeling suicidal. As a result, in March, her parents made the decision to pull their daughter from school to free her from the toxic environment, and allow her to focus on her education and healing. Sonia is starting to laugh and smile again but bullies still try to reach her on social media where one child recently group-messaged "KYS" - which means kill yourself.
Her mom said, "It was really upsetting for her. I wish children understood how damaging saying or suggesting things like this is for other people. Especially when they are vulnerable and emotional." The family has been busy transitioning Sonia to an online school platform and her mom reports, "we have her in therapy to address her pain. There is a lot of trauma to undo."
AMBASSADORS, THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN... YOU EXCEL AT BRINGING HOPE & CONFIDENCE BACK TO A BULLIED PEER! IT'S WHAT YOU DO!
Together, we can show Sonia there are way more friends than bullies in the world! Fill Sonia's heart with positive and empathetic words and art through your letters, cards and videos of support telling her what an awesome, caring and interesting friend she is - that anyone would be lucky to have!
THE DUE DATE FOR SONIA'S LETTERS IS JUNE 3RD!
Friend Mail must arrive in our NY office for review by the Due Date to be included in her main surprise delivery.
Will your school year end before the delivery? Be sure to follow us on social media to see the surprise delivery of all your support and kindness!!
"CHANGE ONE LIFE AND YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD. IT'S IN YOUR HANDS!"
Mail "PHYSICAL" letters to:
Be A Friend Project
P.O. Box 30
Beacon, NY 12508
Email letters, videos, scans & Google Drive links, send to:
jennifer@beafriendproject.org
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