Anti-bullying apps are being adopted by UAE schools to ensure worried pupils don't have to suffer in silence - and help remove the 'stigma' of approaching a counsellor.
Reporting applications, online forms and even QR codes are being used as high-tech tools by educators determined to offer respite to those who are fearful of coming forward.
Jumeriah Baccalaureate School has recently launched a reporting application, called Bravely, which pupils can use to report instances of bullying anonymously, through text, pictures and videos.
Denise Kenny, a counsellor at the school, which teaches children from ages three up to 17, says the application acts as a direct line to her, allowing her to support more people than ever before.
"Using the app will open up more avenues to reach pupils who may be bullied and give other pupils the courage to message and see me when they need support," said Ms Kenny.
"In schools there is a lot of stigma around going to the counsellor. We are a big school and I work across the school from primary to secondary. Through the app, I can try and reach out to more pupils."
The school has a no-phone policy and the counsellor said she receives messages in the evening, which she responds to within 24 hours.
While the messages are anonymous, the counsellor can see the username and understand if the same pupils are using the app regularly or if different pupils are facing the same issue.
"We are trying to use technology to link to pupils," she said.
"Schools in Dubai are also using QR (quick response) codes. Pupils can scan the code and fill in a form. Our pupils are technology-focused and we need to find ways to link to them. We try to find different methods to get the best for the pupil’s well-being at school.
"I am the only counsellor and there are over 800 pupils at the school and figuring out what is going on in each class is difficult.
Gems Metropole School in Motor City has a student population of 3,100 and staff decided they needed a new method of reporting bullying.
In primary school, they have instituted a QR code where pupils can report bullying anonymously.
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Mark McAdam, deputy head of secondary at the school, said pupils can access the code with their iPads.
It will then bring up an online form to fill out with the issue they need to raise, which will be sent to a school leader when completed.
Secondary school pupils can access a google document form which they can report bullying and save in the favourites section on their devices.
The cyber crackdown on bullying has been welcomed by pupils at the school.
"We have seen that children have become more open and are reporting more. We are glad pupils feel safe enough to report such things," said Aya Adib, a 15-year-old pupil.
"the idea of using a QR code is very smart," said Mikail Sheikh, a 14-year-old pupil from Pakistan.
"Our generation is different from the previous generation where you would just speak with a counsellor. By using technology, pupils are more open and can type in their problems rather than talking about it.
"The fact that it is anonymous helps because people of my age group don’t like exposing their problems too much.
"Writing it on the google document helps us open up. It’s a great way to let people know.
"If a pupil prefers to talk to a counsellor, they have that option too."
Haneen Jarrar, a child psychologist at Camali Clinic in Dubai is hopeful that the use of technology will boost the reporting of bullying in schools.
"A lot of schools have introduced anonymous reporting," she said.
"Children are tech-savvy and they are comfortable using these methods to communicate as they can express their feelings if something has happened.
"A lot of times children are too shy to go to the counsellor," she said.
The psychologist believes that children don’t want to be seen going to see the teacher or counsellor.
"Apps or online forms offer a secure method to report bullying.
“If it’s done right, it increases the reporting of bullying and prevents matters from escalating further.
She warned that schools must train the teachers, counsellors, and pupils and ensure they are comfortable using the technology.
She believes that if the app is too tough to log in to, and is not user-friendly, people won’t use it.
"You also have to make it accessible, age-appropriate and user-friendly," she said.
The psychologist believes the app may be helpful in many schools which have a large student population but just one counsellor.
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PROFILE OF CURE.FIT
Started: July 2016
Founders: Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori
Based: Bangalore, India
Sector: Health & wellness
Size: 500 employees
Investment: $250 million
Investors: Accel, Oaktree Capital (US); Chiratae Ventures, Epiq Capital, Innoven Capital, Kalaari Capital, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Piramal Group’s Anand Piramal, Pratithi Investment Trust, Ratan Tata (India); and Unilever Ventures (Unilever’s global venture capital arm)
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Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Ra
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Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
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12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
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14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
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Director:Anthony Hayes
Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes
Rating:3/5
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
Company Profile
Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners
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Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The Freedom Artist
By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)
