The Camp Verde Community Library hosted the Toley Ranz Foundation’s Stop Bullying Program for children in first through fifth grades on Wednesday, March 1.
Anke Otto-Wolf, creator of Toley Ranz, started the foundation around three years ago to empower children.
“I learned and experienced how desperately children need that kind of foundation,” Otto-Wolf said.
Toley Ranz, whose name is derived from the word “tolerance,” is an imaginary character who encourages and supports children. Otto-Wolf intended the character to represent the inner voice and moral compass of a child.
“We must address the whole child, meaning that self-belief and kindness are as important as academic subjects,” Otto-Wolf said in a press release. “If we want to raise strong kids in difficult times, we must commit fully to show them a path without violence into their teen years. Imagine a child in distress, unable to ward off negativity, or even a bully. Bullying destroys emotional health. Our move into safe spaces at the library not only opens a path to learning productive social skills as well as tolerance values, but it also contributes to thriving communities at large.”
Otto-Wolf initially wanted to implement her program in schools but found it difficult to arrange. She then looked elsewhere and had a trial run last September at the Camp Verde Community Library, followed by another session this month. Otto-Wolf is looking to expand the program to the Cottonwood and Prescott public libraries as well.
The three-part course series follows the program’s three published books that revolve around Toley Ranz. One book, “Sammy’s Big Decision,” follows a young boy who is bullied for having a purple pencil. The children learn how Sammy stood up to his bullies and also receive their very own purple pencil.
“It’s fascinating to see how when they hold the pencil it opens the floodgate of discussion, thoughts, sharing and experiencing,” OttoWolf said. “It’s touching.”
The children often start a discourse among themselves during the programs. Otto-Wolf recalled that one girl shared the stance of putting her hands on her hips to stand up to bullies with two other girls. She then looked at Otto-Wolf and said, “Those two girls are my friends now.” Otto-Wolf states that that is the power of Toley Ranz.
“You could see that they were really thinking about the actions and teachings of Toley Ranz and implemented them during the week in school,” said Otto-Wolf. “It was fascinating to see.”
Otto-Wolf encourages parents, grandparents and guardians to bring their child to the next Toley Ranz program if they are unsure of how to handle their child being bullied.
The last part of the current session will be held on Wednesday, March 8, at 4 p.m. Otto-Wolf hopes to hold another session this summer.
