The Senate recognizes the book “Ernesto ¡Sí, existe!” for its contribution in the fight against bullying
Published on August 15, 2024
This work has contributed to the fight against bullying and other types of violence, highlighting its educational and cultural approach to promote peaceful coexistence and respect for human rights. Promoted by senators Sergio Márquez and María Galiñares, the project has had a significant impact both in Argentina and internationally.
The Senate of Mendoza recognized the book “Ernesto ¡Sí, existe!”, a work that seeks to prevent and eradicate bullying and other types of violence through an educational, social, artistic and cultural approach. The proposal was promoted by Senator Sergio Márquez and Senator María Galiñares, who highlighted the positive impact of this project in promoting human relations free of any form of submission, within a framework of full respect for human rights.
The book, co-created by Myrian Ponce and Virginia Borin, is part of a comprehensive artistic project that uses literary resources, illustrations, narratives, artistic interpretations and staging to make bullying visible, conceptualize and reflect on it, with the aim of building a society centered on diversity and coexistence without violence.
During the award ceremony, which took place on the ground floor of the Margarita Malharro de Torres building of the Mendoza Legislature, the authors of the project emphasized the importance of addressing this issue and highlighted how their work has resonated in the community.
Myrian Ponce, the author of the book, explained that her work had an oral origin, being narrated for a long time before being put on paper in March 2023. Despite being a recent project, it has been very well received in Mendoza. In addition, she commented that her connection with Mendoza was consolidated when she met Virginia, the illustrator, at the Vital Voices walk, an international organization that brought them together. Since then, the project has had the support of various institutions that have promoted its dissemination and development.
The writer reported that the Foundation for International Democracy presented the project at the Austrian Embassy, which chose it as one of the two international projects to sponsor last year. “Thanks to this support, the book was published, free e-books were created, and an audio-story was produced available on platforms such as Spotify,” added Ponce.
Later, Virginia Borin, the book’s illustrator, shared that since the project was launched in August-September of last year, they have reached some 10,000 people, including adults and children. Her goal is to expand this impact and take the project outside of Argentina, since bullying is a worldwide problem.
The artist also highlighted the need to make bullying visible at all stages of life, pointing out how this phenomenon can affect both children and adults, manifesting itself as a form of psychological harassment. The project seeks not only to raise awareness, but also to provide tools to combat bullying, mobilizing children and adults alike.
The authors stressed that, although everyone makes mistakes, the important thing is to recognize them and correct the course, thus reinforcing their commitment to the fight against bullying and the promotion of a healthier and more respectful environment. That is why with this project, they aim to generate a positive and lasting impact on the lives of thousands of people, both in Mendoza and in the rest of the world.
What is this educational project about?
The “Ernesto ¡Sí, existe!” project has achieved significant reach since its launch, with reflection activities that have impacted more than 650 people in Rosario, Mendoza and Buenos Aires. In addition, physical copies have been donated to various public and private institutions, including libraries, schools and community spaces. Book sales have also been made to the general public to finance future stages of the project.
In the corporate sphere, the book has also been used as an awareness-raising tool within the framework of the Diversity and Coexistence program of the company Getnet Argentina, part of the Santander Group, reaching 200 collaborators.
The relevance of “Ernesto ¡Sí, existe!” has been recognized internationally, being one of the only two cultural projects in Argentina that received funding from the Austrian Embassy in June 2023. The book is available in physical format, digitally in Spanish and as an audiobook on platforms such as YouTube and Spotify.
The institutional support of the Senate will make this project even more visible and facilitate the dissemination of its message both nationally and internationally. The declaration of interest is a recognition of the valuable contribution that “Ernesto ¡Sí, existe!” makes to the prevention and eradication of school violence, a phenomenon that affects millions of children and adolescents around the world.
According to UNICEF’s 2023 Situation Report on Children and Adolescents in Argentina, there has been a significant increase in bullying cases in the country, placing Argentina as the fifth country with the highest incidence of this problem globally, according to statistics from Bullying Without Borders. Faced with this alarming reality, initiatives such as “Ernesto ¡Sí, existe!” become essential for the construction of a more just and equitable society, where the fundamental rights of all children and adolescents are respected.
It is worth noting that this project is part of goals 4 and 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, which advocate for quality education and gender equality, highlighting the importance of addressing unequal power dynamics and stereotypes that perpetuate violence.
