This article is from page 9 of the 2011-05-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 9 JPG
A CAMPAIGN by students in Coláiste Mhuire to pay tribute to a former classmate and raise awareness of cancer among young people has been hailed as “creative, inspiring and positive”.
Transition-year students from the Ennis secondary school won two awards at the Young Social Innovators of the Year awards, which were held in Dublin last week.
Their project, ‘C the Bright Side’, was awarded the “Making our World Healthier – Physical Health” challenge award and they also received the ‘YSI Fun-raising Challenge’.
The students decided to base their project around the issue of cancer awareness, following the death last May of their friend, Ciara Conroy (16).
A student at Coláiste Mhuire, Ennis, Ciara was also involved with Can Teen Ireland, a nationwide sup- port group for young people who have or have had cancer.
Through various events and initiatives, the students raised almost € 500, the highest amount raised by any of the 350 projects who entered the competition.
The judges commended the students for a project that they said dealt with a “deeply sensitive personal issue in a way that was creative, inspiring and positive, through celebrating the life of a school friend”.
The project raised awareness of the issue of teen cancer and raised significant funds while leaving a lasting memorial of their friend, the judges said.
Over 5, 500 young people participated in Young Social Innovators’ project-based programme this year. Speaking at the ceremony, Sr Stanislaus Kennedy commended the winners and all the participants in Young Social Innovators 2011.