TWO northern suburbs men who suffered bullying as teenagers have set up an anti-bullying group after their independent research showed victims need support.
The pair plan to take their Beat Bullying with Confidence campaign to schools, and youth and refugee groups to share how they overcame bullying at a northern suburbs secondary school in the 1990s.
More than 200 students, mainly aged 11 to 17, took part in the survey which found all participants had been affected by bullying, which also contributed to creating a negative self-image.
Ron Prasad, 35, of Bundoora, and Gus Nehme, 34, of Mill Park, said the survey showed 31 per cent of victims did not report bullying for fear of retribution and 22 per cent wanted bullying support groups in schools.
Nehme grew up in Venezuela, migrating to Australia in the 1990s, and was picked on because of his then limited English, his accent and first name, Gassan.
He says he was verbally abused, pushed and played tricks on. “I was lucky I had Ron, we stayed by each other’s side. We were different; outcasts.”
Nehme, now a national retail sales and marketing manager, overcame his shyness and says he wants to help other bullying victims.
“If I only help one or two, I will be happy,” he says.
Prasad said as a migrant from Fiji he also suffered bullying at school and it had made him passionate about helping others overcome their negative experiences.
“Bullying affected how I saw myself; I had a feeling of not being good enough,” the motivational speaker says.
“I never told my family and there was no official support [for bullying victims] in the 1990s.”
The men say they will provide free talks to any groups, including at workplaces where refugees might suffer bullying, about their research and own experiences.
Details: beatbullyingwithconfidence.com.
