MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A student is spearheading an anti-bullying initiative in Miami-Dade County.
She’s the co-founder of the “My Buddy Bench Project” and is helping to combat bullying one bench at a time.
“I think this organization is great because my personal experiences have been hard in elementary school and I don’t want anyone else to have the same experiences,” Victoria Portela said.
Victoria and her mother, Mary Portela, co-founded the My Buddy Bench Project -- built off of Victoria’s personal experience with bullying.
“I was joining a new school in the third grade and I did feel really hurt in the beginning because I didn’t know these people and they were just judging me off of … I don’t know, anything,” Victoria said.
That feeling of judgement and isolation sparked Victoria to create this anti-bullying nonprofit with her mother.
This is an extension of what is known around the world as a “friendship bench,” known for mental healing and inclusivity.
“She mentioned, ‘Mom, I’d love to have a bench like this in my old elementary school,’” Mary Portela said.
And so, this mother-daughter duo got to work, working with school counselors, city leaders and the community to make it happen.
“It took a lot of time for this organization to build up and to happen. It took about almost two years for our first Buddy bench to be installed,” Victoria said.
The nonprofit went from one bench to now five.
“We have one at Peacock Park, one at Pine Villa Elementary School ...” Victoria said.
The latest unveilings happened at Coral Reef Park and Palmetto Bay Park.
“I just want to say thank you to everyone that has been instrumental in making this little slice of paradise a little kinder,” Palmetto Bay Mayor Karen Cunningham said.
“It’s a big initiative because it has really been spearheaded by a young person and I think that’s really special,” she added.
The benches provide a safe place where kids can sit if they need a friend or just someone to talk to.
The bench designs foster a kind and inclusive environment for kids created by a kid.
Victoria, now a 10th grader, hopes to continue raising awareness about bullying, one Buddy bench at a time.
“Nobody sees the behind the scenes, but it takes a lot of work and I really, honestly am super happy to be the face of this organization,” she said.
If you would like join in and donate to help keep this project going, click here.