How to advocate for others
Yas stood by the fence and watched. On the playground, two boys—the older ones, a head taller than Timko—surrounded little Timko and kicked his yellow ball far into the corner. Timko stood motionless, clenched his fists, and tried not to cry. It was hard work.
Yas felt it was unfair. But there were two of them. And they were bigger. A small, cowardly voice whispered, "None of your business. Go away. Don't come in.".
Yas almost took a step back.
But then something moved in the old linden tree. A little owl with glasses and a squirrel with an acorn sat on a branch and looked at him - calmly, but attentively.
“Is it scary?” Sofiyka asked quietly.
“Yes,” Yas admitted. “There are two of them, and they are bigger than me.”.
"I know," said the Owl. "But let's talk about what you can do. You don't have to, but you can.".
🦉 Lesson from Sofiyka
1. Courage is not the absence of fear.
Fear is normal. It's there even in adults. Even in very brave people. Courage is not when you're not afraid at all. It's when you see that something is going wrong and you decide to do something anyway - even if it's small, even if it's just one word.
"I was so scared of a spider once," Solomiyka put in, "that I dropped an acorn into the river. But then I climbed in to save it anyway. The acorn, of course, swam away... But I climbed in!"
2. Standing up doesn't mean fighting.
Some people think that to protect someone, you have to be the strongest. This is not true. You can stand up for yourself with your words. With your voice. With your presence. Sometimes it's enough to just walk up and stand next to them - and the perpetrators immediately feel uncomfortable because a witness has appeared.
3. One vote is something
When everyone is silent, the abuser thinks that everything is fine. That everyone agrees. But it is enough for at least one person to say out loud: «This is unfair» - and the picture changes. You are not alone against everyone. You are the one who called the truth out loud.
"And this truth is loud!" Solomiyka picked up and jumped up on the branch. "Even if you speak softly!"
4. Calling an adult is also bravery.
Some kids think that calling for help is a sign of weakness. But that's not true. If a teacher or a parent or any adult is nearby, going and telling them what's happening is a smart and courageous thing to do. You're not whining. You're asking for help where it's needed.
5. Think about someone who is feeling unwell right now.
When you're scared, it's easy to think only about yourself: "What will happen to me?" But try to think for a moment about someone who is in trouble right now. They are in much worse shape than you are. And one word from you, one step from you can change their whole day.
6. Words are a shield
«Stop it,» «That’s unfair,» «He didn’t do anything to you» — these words sound simple. But they carry a lot of weight. They tell the abuser that someone noticed. And the person being abused — that they are not alone.
"And also," Solomiyka added, a little quieter, "it can be scary. But then, when you do do something—even the smallest thing—it feels warm inside. I know for sure.".
7. You don't have to decide everything yourself.
If the situation looks dangerous, don't get in the thick of it. Find an adult. Call a friend. Tell someone. Being smart is also brave. Standing up for yourself doesn't mean risking yourself. It means not turning away.
Yas thought. He wouldn't have been able to stop them alone—there were two of them, and they were bigger. But he saw a bench near the entrance, where Timko's mother was sitting with her phone.
He went — not to the offenders, but to the bench. — Excuse me, your Timko needs help.
She stood up. The boys stepped back. Timko picked up his yellow ball and said quietly: "Thank you.".
Something warm spilled into Yas's chest. Only the pink thread from the scarf remained on the branch.
Sofiyka believes in you. And Solomiyka too. 🦉🐿️