In a time when 1 in 5 students face bullying, it is more important than ever to equip young people with the skills to stand up against these injustices.
Traditional approaches like “tell a teacher” have been helpful, but they are not sufficient to address the complex dynamics of bullying today. Students need practical skills to create lasting change, and bystander intervention can play a transformative role.
Right To Be, a nonprofit dedicated to ending harassment, developed the Right To Be Youth Program. This curriculum gives young people practical bystander intervention tools to safely intervene when they witness bullying or harassment.
The program was launched at the Academy of Urban Planning and Engineering in Brooklyn, NY, in 2023. Educators immediately noticed positive impacts. “After implementing the program, I started to hear the students address each other when they saw instances of bullying or harassment,” said Rosemarie Flore, Teacher and Interim Assistant Principal at the Academy of Urban Planning and Engineering.
Many students came with a “lack of social skills,” partly due to the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bullying and harassment have serious consequences, affecting emotional well-being, mental health, and academic performance.
The Right To Be Youth Program is grounded in the organization’s proven 5Ds of Bystander Intervention methodology. The five strategies provide flexible options for students to respond to situations in ways that feel safe and appropriate for them.
The 5Ds are: Distract, Delegate, Document, Delay, and Direct. These strategies offer a toolbox of safe intervention options that any student can use, regardless of their personality or the specifics of the situation.
The program not only teaches students how to safely intervene but also emphasizes the power of community. Educators highlighted the importance of using these tools to foster a cultural shift within schools, creating environments where inclusion and diversity are prioritized.
Right To Be’s 5Ds for Youth Program builds on the organization’s evidence-based Bystander Intervention training program. To date, Right To Be has trained more than 2 million people in bystander intervention.
The hope is that learning the 5Ds will have an impact far beyond school, helping students develop confidence, empathy, and leadership abilities that will serve them well into adulthood.
Right To Be aims to bring this curriculum to 50 schools and youth-serving organizations across the U.S. and Canada. As we wrap up Anti-Bullying Awareness Month, it is crucial that these conversations continue.
The students who participate in these programs are not just changing their schools; they are paving the way for a more inclusive, compassionate world.
Jorge Arteaga serves as the Vice President of Movement Building at Right To Be, overseeing initiatives aimed at fostering safer, more inclusive environments by advocating for anti-hate and anti-harassment strategies and community empowerment.