International Day of Pink

On April 10, SUIS Qingpu held a Flag-raising Ceremony with the theme of “Pink Day – Change starts with us”. Students and teachers wore pink clothing and/or accessories that served to symbolize anti-bullying and signed their names on a large Pink Day signature wall.

History of the Pink Day

The International Day of Pink was started in Canada, after two high school students saw a boy being bullied because he was wearing a pink shirt. The two students intervened at that moment, but also wanted to do more to prevent bullying at their school.

In a stroke of creative genius, these two young men decided to purchase pink shirts and wear them to school. This action sparked a larger movement – a few days later almost everyone else at their school arrived at class wearing pink, standing in solidarity for anti-bullying. The result was that an entire school took a stand and began working together to prevent bullying of any type.

The International Day of Pink campaign has continued to grow. It is now an international anti-bullying campaign that thrives in schools, workplaces, and communities.

At the Flag-raising Ceremony, Ms. Allison Wang, the high school’s psychological counsellor, organized a game called “Please don’t label me”. Through 10 questions, she helped students understand that the act of ‘labeling’ deceives one’s consciousness and make us treat each other differently, which is the beginning of discrimination and bullying.

Mr. Leo Ge, SUIS Qingpu’s Vice-Principal, delivered a keynote speech on this topic. The school’s principals then left their signatures in front of the Pink Day signature board and issued an anti-bullying declaration.

Raymond Cai, a high school student, appealed to all students to establish an equal and friendly campus culture with the song “Rose Young Man”. During the singing, from primary school through to high school, everyone shook their pink bracelets and spoke anti-bullying slogans.

Students’ Words

Lucy Tong from G9

Bullying can cause many different degrees of trauma. I hope that everyone who feels like they have been bullied or who sees bullying happening can stand up and prevent it.

Cherry Zhou from G10

Bullying doesn’t necessarily involve being covered in bruises. It can be a subtle change, exclusion, isolation, and lead to loss of confidence and self-esteem. It may result from an unintentional act, or it may be a subconscious ‘push away’. Embrace differences, respect differences – every dream deserves to be respected, and every individual can shine.

Peter Gao from G11

In my perspective, the key for anti-bullying should be rooted in empathy and understanding, nurturing a culture that not only discourages bullying but also actively promotes inclusion, kindness, and respect for one another.

We can take a proactive stance in raising awareness through seminars, workshops, and even creative mediums such as plays and artistic performances. By involving students, teachers, and parents in the conversations, a sense of shared responsibility can be cultivated, ensuring that everyone is on board with preventing instances of bullying. I believe all this can happen in both the online and offline world.

Moreover, it is crucial to have a robust support system in place for those affected by bullying, offering them resources and counselling services to help them overcome their experiences. In essence, a well-rounded anti-bullying initiative can greatly contribute to the holistic development of individuals and foster a sense of unity and compassion within communities.

More than a colour, more than a day!

The concept of the International Day of Pink is not limited to a certain day or a certain moment in time. We hope that our students can deeply root the concepts of equality, care and respect in their hearts, and embrace a bright and colourful future!