The initiative encourages children and young people to ‘Be a Buddy, Not a Bully’. The campaign aims to raise awareness around bullying, encouraging children of Africa to take positive action against discrimination and bullying, on and offline.

Cartoon Network’s CN Buddy Network is a global anti-bullying campaign that started with Cartoon Network in the United States and was then adopted by the EMEA region. CN Buddy Network was launched in Africa in 2016 in partnership with Gold Olympic medalist and world record holder, Wayde van Niekerk.

Taking over as Africa’s CN Buddy Network ambassador, Ntando Mahlangu will appear in an on-air campaign on Cartoon Network, which includes an original series of animated shorts voiced by children who articulate positive messages around friendship, school, and appreciating differences whether it is on the playground, sports field, or online.

“What an honour to follow in the footsteps of Wayde van Niekerk, CN Buddy Network’s brand ambassador for 2016. Wayde is an amazing athlete and I aspire to be like him one day. To learn that he was once bullied was an opportunity for me to be brave and speak out about my experience in order to raise awareness around discrimination regarding disabilities,” says Mahlangu.

“I am proud of who I am and what I have accomplished and I hope my bully can see me now. I was so excited when Cartoon Network approached me, I appreciate having the opportunity to inspire other kids like me; to be proud of who they are. I know what it feels like to be bullied – it’s not cool. If you are being bullied, speak up, so that together, we can beat the bully,” he adds.

As part of the initiative, Cartoon Network, available across Africa, has collaborated with Childline and SaveTNet Cyber Safety, two non-profit organisations that will work collectively to assist children exposed to all forms of violence and create a culture of children's rights in Africa. These platforms already provide immediate advice and support for children and young people in South Africa who are subjected to any form of bullying and violence.

Childline South Africa national executive officer, Dumisile Nala, says, “Bullying in schools is a worldwide problem that impacts adversely on school climates, and this can have a devastating impact on young people. It can affect their confidence, their school work, leave them feeling isolated, and friendless – and even make them feel that life is not worth living. That’s why Childline is delighted to partner with Cartoon Network again to reach out so that the kids do not have to suffer in silence.”

“Sadly, many young people commit suicide because of cyberbullying, and SaveTNet aims to save lives by creating awareness for responsible digital engagement. Cyberbullying has a lasting effect, and we encourage viewers to consider the consequences of what they share via digital platforms,” says SaveTNet Cyber safety chief executive officer, Rianette Leibowitz.

“Partners, such as Cartoon Network, enable us to share the cyber safety message with a wider audience to ensure people know that there is help and support available and that they are not alone,” adds Leibowitz.

Another initiative of the campaign is the dedicated online platform that children who are affected by bullying – whether directly or indirectly – can access for professional advice and relevant tips through videos and support tools on the CN Be a Buddy website.

The site aims to inform children about bullying and what they can do to prevent it in a way that is relevant to them, empower children to speak up against bullying and to be aware of their own actions while providing contact details for Childline and SaveTNet for immediate help, support, and relief.

Pierre Branco, VP and Managing Director of Turner Africa concludes, “Bullying is a real and, sadly, growing issue for our viewers and it concerns us knowing that most of our children across Africa are affected daily by bullying in person and online. It is hugely important for us to address this issue in a way that is positive, supportive, and relevant. This year’s series of bespoke ‘Be a Buddy, Not a Bully’ animations makes use of real thoughts and commentary from kids, which we hope will be really powerful and engaging for our viewers, encouraging them to stand up and speak out against bullying.”

For more information, visit www.beabuddy.cartoonnetworkhq.com. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook.

You can read more about Cartoon Network's 'Be a Buddy, Not a Bully' campaign in our article, Burson-Marsteller reflects on the award-winning campaign to curb bullying.