Charlie Cooper nominated for Pride of Australia award for his Buddy Bench idea
LIKE many others, Charlie Cooper struggled to fit in at school. But unlike most nine-year-olds, he decided to do something about it.
Pride of Australia
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LIKE many others, Charlie Cooper struggled to fit in at school. But unlike most nine-year-olds, he decided to do something about it.
After a family holiday to the US, Charlie returned to school with a plan to eliminate loneliness from his playground.
His big idea was the Buddy Bench – a safe place where students can go if they don’t have any friends to play with.
Charlie pitched the idea to his principal at Trinity Beach State School and began work.
The Buddy Bench was introduced at Charlie’s school this week and he now hopes to introduce the concept to other schools.
Proud mum Carly Cooper nominated Charlie as a Child of Courage in this year’s Pride of Australia Awards.
“I nominated Charlie because he is a little legend. He has gone out and shown other children how to take a negative and turn it in a positive,” Mrs Cooper said.
“He is a caring and considerate young man.
“At 9 years of age to do something like this for his local school community is inspiring.’’
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