Speak Out, Stand Out, Stamp Out

Coláiste Mhuire, Askeaton, Co. Limerick, 2014

Speak Out, Stand Out, Stamp Out
Combined Shape Created with Sketch.
CATEGORY: Make Our World Healthier Challenge (Mental Health)

The Idea

The aim of this project is to raise awareness about people standing by and watching bullying in action. The team selected the issue as some students had witnessed bullying and had done nothing about it. Bullying can occur where people are present and watch it, but don’t intervene. They concluded that in a bullying case, the bystander is rarely mentioned, but they still have the power to change someone’s life. So their role in a bullying incident is the most important.

The Action

Their innovative response was to compose a song called “Together We Stand”. Having composed and recorded the song with the help of Croagh School of Music, they began promoting their song to raise awareness of their anti-bullying campaign.  They were invited to perform at Limerick Institute of Technology Music Festival and their local shopping centre. They were also interviewed on several local and national radio stations as well as having their song broadcast on air.

During their Anti-Bullying Week in school the group organised a “Stand Out” where all students were asked to stand for a moments silence as they lined the corridor while the song “Together We Stand” could be heard over the intercom. This was also repeated in 14 other schools across Limerick and Clare in V.E.C. schools.

In addition to this, the group also decided to create the YSI Anti-Bullying Board Game and an educational pack containing a colouring book, a copy of a power point presentation including facts and statistics along with word searches. The board game works by a point system which rewards children with points if they help the bullying victims. The game and activity set will be piloted in surrounding primary schools and was also used by the I.S.P.C.C. for their National Anti-Bullying Day.

The Impact

Future plans include distributing the educational material and their song to schools all over the country with the support of ISPCC.

Award Winner
2014 Making Our World Healthier - Mental Health
Challenge supported by
Make Our World Healthier Challenge (Mental Health)