Stop Being a Bully

During this year’s Anti-Bullying Week, we tasked our mentors with developing creative content around the issue of bullying. City Year Mentor Nadera took this opportunity to show off her fantastic illustration skills, steering away from a digital approach. Nadera developed a vibrant 16-page illustrated book that creatively explains different dimensions of bullying and its effects. Let’s take a look to see what’s inside the book…

Nadera made sure to include some powerful messages paired with strikingly vivid and colourful illustrations.

Nadera also outlines the different types of bullying and examines how people can be bullied based on different aspects of their identity. The City Year Mentor paired insightful statistics and educational tables with poems, drawings and bold design—utilising her creative imagination to communicate her points.

And included pop-up messages of positivity, which are meticulously placed throughout the book!

Nadera also bravely deployed her creative writing skills, writing a powerful short story on a subject close to her heart. Nadera’s close friend, Aiman, sadly passed away recently due to bullying. This compassionate short story is dedicated to her friend, expressing her feelings of grief, sorrow, and love for Aiman. Nadera’s story serves as a reminder of the very real effects bullying can have on an individual and the importance of why we collectively need to eradicate bullying for good.

Broken Hearts Aiman By Nadera K.

Depression is a medicine, a drug that has dictated our lives and minds.

Oh Aiman, you were my Roman Empire! You left this world too quickly, leaving halo wings and scars on everyone.

Our past was a sacred dream that was supposed to die with us, not just you. Why did you leave me in this cruel world?

We were supposed to stick together, yet here I am making mistakes. I love you, I’m sorry!

You were the best thing to ever happen to me and the worst thing was I had to let you go and live my life peacefully.

I had to make sure that my mind and health were at peace. Parts of me regret the choice I made.

I should’ve checked upon you but I guess god has taken a beautiful angel too quickly.

Do you ever blame me? The question has always repeated in my mind, but some part of me knows that you will always be proud of me, and proud of how far I have come from being bullied.

I’m proud of you for how far you have come. I’m so sorry that you went through this alone. No one deserves it, especially you.

20 years of living and you were gone too quickly. I will always remember your name and I will keep living for you. My sweet angel Aiman, I love you. Goodbye, dear friend!