School Name: St. Columba’s Comprehensive School, Glenties, Co. Donegal
Project Name: I Swing that Way?
Award: Making Our World Healthier - Mental Health Challenge

Award presented by Geoff Day, Director of the National Office for Suicide Prevention, Health Service Executive

The students focused on the subject of homophobic bullying in secondary schools. Information was collected from Glen and BeLonG To websites, from equality documents, newspapers and magazines. The team also contacted an Advocacy Officer from BeLonG To and a Director in Donegal Youth Council.

A survey was distributed to the teachers within the school on the issue to establish their feelings and attitudes towards the topic. The results prompted the students to ask their principal for permission to organise a half day in-service workshop for teachers focusing on homophobic bullying. A representative from Breakout facilitated the workshop.

Every second level school in Ireland was written to, to inform them of the project in the hope that they will do the same. To cover the postage expenses, they organised a non –uniform day - Rainbow Day, where students paid €2 in the hope of raising the much needed €800.

The team organised and held a Stand–Up week to allow students to stand up for their LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) friends and stand up against homophobic bullying. Posters were displayed around the school and the team approached SPHE teachers and asked them to do some exercises with the classes on the issue. The students feel confident that they have created awareness about the issue of homophobic bullying, especially amongst teachers.

The judges said this project “Identified the need to challenge and train teachers and staff in the school as part of wider community education on LGBT issues. The work culminated in Stand Up week in the school to stand up against homophobic bullying.”