Pink Shirt Day

In my previous post I discussed the need to go big in order to solve global problems. In recognition of Pink Shirt Day I wanted to discuss how a simple idea has been so successful

Pink Shirt Day was started in Nova Scotia because a boy was bullied on the first day of school for wearing a pink shirt. To take a stand against bullying David Shepherd and Travis Price decided they would use a pink shirt to represent their campaign. After only a few years this symbol has become a national day of awareness. The reason for Pink Shirt Days success is first the low cost factor, as well as using students as volunteers.

Cost has always been a huge factor when designing an awareness campaign, with recent economic struggles and reduced funding to schools it is now imperative to the success of an initiative. By making Pink Shirt Day low cost it can easily be integrated into the school schedule because local schools do not have to commit funding to the cause.

However cost is only an issue on creating the campaign it is not the key influence on a successful message. Pink Shirt Days primary success comes from using possible future bullies in its operation. By getting students excited about anti-bullying messages you influence the individual not to bully another child this also influences the social circle of that student to stand behind the cause and putting an end to bullying.

As the saying goes you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink. The number one reason for campaigns directed to youth failing is because more often than not they involve a speaker telling the student body what to do, how to think, and how to act. Instead we need to empower students to find their own solutions after all no one likes being told what to do. This fundamental of empowering users ensures that after the pink shirts are put away the message of anti-bullying will continue.