A Grovedale student has received a humanity award after he chose to turn a painful experience of bullying into a powerful movement for change.
Alexander Scott was named as The Fred Hollows Foundation’s Victorian Junior Ambassador for his initiative, Shoot for Kindness – Block Out Bullying.
Alexander founded the initiative last year, where he used professional basketballers to inspire conversations around bullying.
“If I can help change one person’s life, that’s a great achievement for me as…I want kids not to be afraid of who they are and be proud of who they are,” he said.
“At my old school, I got really badly bullied to the point where I needed to move schools, so I moved, and then I just thought that I didn’t want other kids to feel alone.
“I’m funded fully through recycling with cans and bottles, and I’ve raised more than $3000 and collected 30,000 cans, with each can or bottle representing a child or teen that’s being bullied like I was.”
Alexander said the initiative wouldn’t be possible without his “village”, which included the support of organisations and groups like print.design, Bunnings Waurn Ponds, Grill’d Pakington Street and AthletIQ.
“I can’t do it alone as it takes a village to block out bullying,” he said.
Alexander’s mother Fiona Scott said her son was helping make a big difference “in the world of fighting against bullying”.
“From a mum’s perspective, the Fred Hollows awards have been absolutely unbelievable in recognising all these incredible kids around Australia and helping share Alexander’s message,” she said.
“We’re just so proud that he’s turned such a negative experience into such a positive one, and he doesn’t blame anybody; he just wants to make sure no other kid feels the way he does.”
Recipients of The Fred Hollows Foundation’s ambassador and humanity awards were announced at an awards ceremony at The University of Sydney on 10 November.
