The Action
The team divided into groups wherein the students undertook different tasks. Groups included the PR group, fundraising group, a group of writers, a group of illustrators, an advertising group, the colouring group and the songwriters. Some students were involved in more than one group and they embraced the opportunity with open arms. Every student in the class had a task or job to do and each one carried it out to the best of their ability. As a class group they sat down at the beginning of the year and brain stormed. It was suggested by a classmate that they write a children’s story book and a song so as to approach the issue in a child-friendly manner whilst getting their message across in a simple and basic way. A group of writers began work on the plot of the story, alongside the illustrators who were doing really well. They took the drawings and text to the local printers to be professionally printed.
Another group took a well-known song and began writing lyrics to go with it. At the Speak Out they performed a scene from a play, complete with costumes and masks designed and made by some of the students. They organised a fundraiser in their local supermarket Twohig’s Super Valu, where they bag packed to raise money to help towards paying for the book and other materials needed for their production.
The remainder of the money they raised was intended for donation to either YSI or another charity. They created links with the local newspaper and newsletter and the Stay Safe Programme which they hoped would help them develop their project further.
The Impact
Their plans for the future involved promoting their book and extending the project throughout the country. They planned to promote the book and song in places such as crèches, parent and toddler groups and primary schools, where they could read the book, perform the scene and sing the song. They aimed to try and make the project nationwide by getting involved in national radio stations and television stations.
