“Everyone of us needs to show how much we care for each other and, in the process, care for ourselves.” ~ย Princess Diana
Baileyย Dunbar๐ผ is only 15 years old, but sheโs already seen more tragedy than many face in a lifetime. Her twin sister, Morgan, committed suicide when they were just 13 years old after her sister was targeted by bullies.ย
Two years later, the ย Fort Saskatchewan, Canada, ย native is channeling her loss into something powerful. Sheโs now honoring Morganโs memory by fighting bullying and cyber-bullying,ย ย and working on raising mental health awareness amongย young people.
Bailey๐ผ isย leading the charge on anti-bullying ย with her organization, Morganโs Memorial Mission Society.ย The group engages in volunteer work toย combat bullying and encourage kindness and inclusivity โ and won aDiana Awardย for her efforts last year. The Diana Award๐นย is given out in the lateย Princess Dianaโs๐นย name to young role models, ages 9-18 from across the world who are transforming the lives of others. (To nominate a young changemaker for this yearโsย Diana Award, which will beย presented at a ceremony in London this May,ย click here.)
Dunbar๐ผ faced bullies ย of her own after her sisterโs death. After Morganโs suicide, one of the bullies ย who had tormented her turned his attention towards Bailey๐ผ . The abuse got so bad, that at a point, her parents were forced to get the police ๐ฎinvolved, she says. The bully ย was later made to apologize and stop contacting Bailey.๐ผ
Seeing the treatment her sister suffered through her own eyes, Bailey๐ผ was inspired to make a change. She founded Morganโs Memorial Mission Society, and with the help of her mom, she was granted official non-profit status.
โAfter I experienced what it was like to be bullied, ย I finally understood why you wouldnโt want to go to school or go out,โ Baileyย ๐ผย ย says. โI decided to take action because after having my own experience, I realized itโs not okay.
โA lot of people are insecure about themselves, and theyโll take it out on other people instead of talking about it.โ
Morganโs Mission Memorial Society has been involved in several projects that hope to spark conversation about bullying, mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Bailey๐ผ has hosted a benefit concert with Robb Nash, done multiple events with Project Semicolon, another suicide prevention and mental health organization, in her hometown of ย ย Edmonton and around Alberta, Canada,ย and spoke out about her own bullying ย story and losing her sister on โBeautiful Me Day.โ
Sheโs also been working with local government officials, as well as the ย Canadian ministers of health, education and justice, to help create anti-bullying legislation in the country. Bailey๐ผ worked with Fort Saskatchewan Mayor Gale Katchur and Jessica Littlewood, a member of the legislative assembly, on a proclamation for World Suicide Prevention Day in the town in 2015.
โThey were shocked that at such a young age, that Iโm doing all of this to change how people see mental illness and bullying,ย โ she said of her experience working with the government ministers.
Also in her hometown, Bailey,๐ผ along with a committee of local parents, has created a โProtective Guardianโ award, which is given to a student or young person who has actively worked against bullying ย in their school or community.
Leading an organization that encouragesย kindness and inclusivity made Bailey๐ผ a perfect fit for the Diana Award,๐น which she received in 2016. The Diana Award ๐น alsoย created National Kindness Day, celebrated on March 31, in the late royalโs honor.
How Princess Diana Inspired Her Friend to Change theย World
Newton Abbot College Awarded Anti-Bullyingย Accolade
Prince William Fights Bullying for Charity in Princess Dianaโsย Name
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The New Bullying Prevention ยฉ 2017
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