Welcome to the June 2023 edition of Kiddie Press Club newsletter! We hope this finds you all in good health and high spirits as we gear up for another exciting month of news, stories, and activities.

As always, we have a lot to share with you, so let’s dive right in!

News Highlights:

Ø Our club recently participated in a community service project, where we visited schools around our rural community to educate them on the importance of education. It was a heartwarming experience, and we are proud to have made a positive impact in our community.

Ø The Kiddie Press Club’s journalism team participated in the International Environmental Day Festival and the experience was truly extraordinary. We prepared and made a PowerPoint presentation on the topic, “The link between agriculture, food security, and environmental sustainability in Nigeria.” Congratulations to Kiddie Press Club talented journalists!

Ø Our club’s photography team are currently working on a project, “Faces of Nigeria.” They are preparing for a great exhibition where they will showcase their creativity and talent. Here is a glimpse of what they are working on. Who are the real faces of Nigeria?

Featured Story:

The Kiddie Press Club has emerged as a beacon of change, using the power of theater and talk show to advocate for quality education and gender equality. Through our captivating performances and thought-provoking narratives, we have embarked on a journey to shatter stereotypes, empower minds, and transform the educational landscape. You won’t want to miss our inspiring stories! Take a look at our top stories for the month.

Bullying

Bullying is an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm. It can involve an individual or a group misusing their power, or perceived power, over one or more persons who feel unable to stop it from happening.

Bullying is not only painful in the moment- it can also have a lasting impact on those targeted. Studies show the effects of bullying last well into adulthood and may have a greater impact on mental health than originally thought. Our experiences growing up – both positive and negative – shape how we view things and ultimately who we become as adults.

Students are encouraged to always speak out and also quick and consistent response from adults can help stop bullying over time. It is important to send a clear message that bullying is not acceptable. We can all play our part to help stop bullying. If you see someone being bullied, don’t be a bystander. Please speak out or report to a trusted adult.

Real life stories on bullying

– I was not wanted in my class. My classmates always made me feel stupid. They always wrote my name in the list of noise makers and they always confronted me about things that I didn’t even do but you see all those days are gone. Now, I know my right and can stand up for myself without being aggressive. All my bullies are now my friends. Thank you, “Kiddie Press Club,” for bringing out the best in me. Now, I am proud of myself. I love my self. Jane. 12years

– I got bullied when I was 11 because I am not as tall as all my class mates. Someone told me that she doesn’t want me close to her because I am short. Another said that she doesn’t like me because I am not in her class. I thought it was nothing at first, but then it escalated. They started to call me names, make fun of me, and even tried to push me down the school stairs. They would blackmail me and would tell the teacher that they saw me cheating during tests (which I didn’t). Since I joined Kiddie Press Club, I have found my voice. Devine. 14years.

How I Overcame Low Self-Esteem.

When I was younger, people used to compliment me saying I was intelligent. They also used to tell me that I was a beautiful girl. But, because of my background and the way my parents were strict on me, I saw all they said as flattery. My father happened to be a man with strict principles. He believed that male and female should have equal rights to education but that female children didn’t have the right to be heard in public. To my credit I was my father’s favourite child all because I was a brilliant and intelligent child in school but that did not change the fact that he considered and wanted me to behave like a female who is supposed to be quiet at every given time.

I thus grew up with low self-esteem and lack of confidence. When Kiddie Press Club was introduced to my school, I was among the first students to join the club. The teacher noticed how shy and reserved I was, and how these affected my performance in the club. She called me one day and bombarded me with questions. Judging by my response, she concluded that I had a lot to offer to the school, but I lacked the confidence to do so. She then told me that my job as a member of the club is to positively impact other students. She also groomed me on how to act in different situations and gave series of lessons on public speaking and leadership. I digested the ideas and suggestions I had gotten from her and got myself prepared for a whole new life. I practiced speaking to an audience using mirror to perfect my non-verbal language. My life began to change. I began to greet everyone with a cool smile and new-found confidence. People were so surprised to see shy little me looking so beautiful and confident.

One day, while assembly was on, I climbed the podium and gave a two-minute speech on gender inequality. The thundering applause I got after the speech boosted my self-esteem the more. In the class, I began to ask and respond to questions and was always ready to clarify what I had in mind. During break, I didn’t sit back in my corner but mingled with my classmates who didn’t hide their surprise about the new me. Meanwhile, my father’s view about female children began to change. Today, I have matured into an intelligent, confident, beautiful and talented student who is never scared of making mistakes and of what people will think of my speeches. Although I still have some elements of shyness left in me, but through the months I have learnt that if I prepare well, I would deliver well. I also discovered that people take you just the way you take yourself. Anonymous

Upcoming Event:

– July 15th: End of School Year Celebration – As the school year comes to a close, we will be saying goodbye to our graduating members and wishing them well on their next adventures.

That’s all for now, friends! As always, we welcome your feedback and ideas for future editions of the Kiddie Press Club newsletter. Keep shining, and we’ll see you next month!

Best regards,

The Kiddie Press Club Team.

kiddiepressclub@gmail.com