'Where Every Hug Says You Belong'

Imagine a world where every child feels safe to be exactly who they are - free from the weight of comparison, the sting of cruel words, and the shadow of self-doubt. That’s the world we're building with The Bears of Blueberry Forest.

Through these big, huggable teddy bears, we're spreading love and belonging to children everywhere. The bears visit schools, hospitals, malls, orphanages, and other places, sharing big bear hugs to remind children that they are enough, that they are loved, and that they belong.

But it doesn’t stop there. Our mission this year is to create an online EQ Learning Channel, where children around the world will have free access to resources that nurture self-love, Emotional Intelligence (EQ), and resilience. This is more than a mission - it’s a way to nurture the hearts of children everywhere, regardless of where they are.

Your support means we can provide children with the tools to rise above bullying, anxiety, insecurity, and self-doubt.

To follow us, click the 3 dots at the top right hand corner of the page and click follow.

Background

Hi, I'm from South Africa and my name is Deborah McPhilemy. I'm the author and creator of The Bears of Blueberry Forest EQ Teaching Bears. I'm also the founder of EQ for All and the EQuipped Community which is all about helping families to become Emotionally Intelligent. My mission is simple - to make Emotional Intelligence development skills accessible to ALL children so they grow up feeling safe being themselves, and live happier and healthier lives. We live in a world riddled with stress, anxiety, bullying and fear which holds children back from being themselves, from being carefree, from being social and having fun. So I created The Bears of Blueberry Forest to bring back some of that fun and teach children how to understand their emotions and change their thoughts in a fun an playful way.

How You Can Support Us

Become a Member of the Hug Club.
Buy 'A Hug'.
Volunteer - come and be a bear for a day.
Teenagers - learn some skills and come and do a shadow shift at one on the Spur's when we are there.
Visit a Spur when we are there in your area, bring the whole family.
Buy one of our products.
Like and subscribe to our YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@BEarKind

All profits and money raised fund the creation of our EQ Learning Channel and our visits to schools, hospitals and orphanages.

Please email me on hello@thebearsofblueberryforest to apply to volunteer or register to do a shadow shift.

Our Founder Deborah's Big 'Why'

If I could describe my childhood in one word, it would be complex! I was bullied from the age of 9, but the hardest part wasn’t just the bullying - it was feeling like I couldn’t be myself, that I didn't belong! I spent years trying to fit in, hiding who I really was, and wondering if I’d ever feel safe just being…me.

Thankfully I finally figured it out when I was introduced to EQ in 2003. Learning about Emotional Intelligence (EQ) changed everything for me. It taught me how to understand my emotions, calm my worries, and finally embrace myself just as I am. Best of all, it gave me the tools to help my own children feel safe and confident in being themselves too.

Kids all over the world are going through the same struggles. Whether it’s fear of being judged, anxiety, bullying, or feeling like they don’t belong, many children feel unsure of themselves. So many children are holding back who they truly are because they don’t feel safe to be themselves. And that’s where my mission comes in!

I created The Bears of Blueberry Forest characters and books to teach kids all the EQ skills I wish I had growing up - through fun, playful, and fun adventures. Because every child deserves to know it’s okay to be themselves, and that they are wonderfully and uniquely enough, just as they are.

BEarKind Is Born

So a few years ago, I decided to bring The Bears of Blueberry Forest to life and turned them into big life size mascots. I was keen to get the message out to children, so I enlisted the help of my husband and brother, we started an organisation called EQ for All, launched a campaign called BEarKind and took our big furry friends on tour to schools, hospitals, orphanages and malls. They told stories, taught some skills, did lots of bear dances, distributed little gifts and dished out tons of hugs. Children, and adults, of all ages loved them. We met so many amazing people on our tour who asked us how they could get involved and support our mission and vision, and so, we created this page.

Our plans were interrupted when Covid came along, but now we are back on track and have once again started our visits.

Thank You!

Thank you for visiting my page. We would not be able to visit schools, hospitals and orphanages, nor do this wonderfully empowering work without you and your support.

With your help, we’re changing how children see themselves - one hug, one heart, and one bright future at a time.

I am so very grateful and I appreciate each and every one of you who support our pawsome mission.

If you want to know more about EQ and why I believe every child could do with it, click here https://deborahmcphilemy.com

With much love and big bear hugs,

Deborah and everyone here in Blueberry Forest xxx