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School Works Toward We Day By Fighting Bullying

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Often bullying stems from a lack of understanding of others. Whether it's sexuality, race or even economic status, some find it easier to pick on others' differences.

Students at Wellstone International High School say bullying is almost a daily occurrence there. Housed in the same building as Roosevelt High, some students say the mixing of the two schools can sometimes be like combining oil and water.

"One of the things that I've seen was a student from Wellstone being bullied by a Roosevelt kid, and mostly it's because of they don't speak the language," Wellstone Student Council Member Ibrhim Abdi said.

Abdi and other council members say in school bullying interferes with what they're really there to do: learn.

"There are some folks that are being bullied and that might cause them to quit school," Abdi said.

Recently, the Wellstone Student Council surveyed the student body about bullying. Their goal was to make everyone aware of what bullying is, find out how big a problem it is and encourage support rather than ridicule for those who are different.

Student council member Diego Pini hopes raising awareness will allow his peer "to feel free to explain themselves. To feel free to be who they want to be."

Wellstone students are earning their way to We Day Minnesota because of their anti-bullying service project.

There's still time for your school to sign up and earn its way to We Day. You have until May 31. The only way to get to we day is to earn it by doing one local and one global service project.

For more information on signing up, go to our We Day page.

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