School Name: St. Angela’s College, Cork, Co. Cork
Project Name: Because of You
Award: Relationships and Sexual Health Challenge

Award presented by Dr. Stephanie O’Keeffe, Acting Director, HSE Crisis Pregnancy Programme.

The team wanted to promote positive relationships amongst teenagers and to demonstrate that all teenagers deserve to be treated well in a relationship. The aim was to raise awareness about abusive relationships and give people the courage to break away from unhealthy relationships.

The internet was utilized to collect relevant data. A number of speakers were invited to discuss the topic with the class, including a Home School Liaison Officer, speakers from Mná Fease and Barnardos. All speakers spoke about unhealthy relationships amongst men and women and the different types of abuse and how difficult it is for someone in an unhealthy relationship to break free.

The students performed a sketch in the school Christmas concert and set up a stand in the school library with information and leaflets. A comic strip was designed to engage fellow students.

They organised an awareness day in their local shopping centre and set up an information stand where they gave out packs containing fact cards, questionnaires, information on local services, pens, balloons, and lollipops to the relevant age group. They also spoke to members of the public.

A balloon day is planned to continue the awareness raising. By the time the project is completed, they aim to educate teenagers on how to avoid unhealthy relationships.

The judges said “This project deals with an issue that affects all teenagers. Along with organising numerous activities in their school, they partnered with their local shopping centre to create awareness of this issue. They gave out fact cards and lollipops and spoke to the general public.”