Pupils go on world trip to support health defenders
A GREAT Harwood school’s pupils are showing their support for a new global health campaign - Defenders of Health designed to teach children about the important role of health workers around the world.
The campaign offers
KS2 children a package of free resources to discover how people around the world are saving lives from viruses and diseases like COVID-19, malaria and polio. This includes an online educational adventure game where children will meet people saving lives all around the world, learn about the tools these health heroes use and complete tasks to help them.
Katy England, class teacher at Great Harwood St John’s Primary School, Accrington, said: “We are excited to go on a journey with our children to explore the global work that is done around a variety of health challenges. We feel that now more than ever, the importance of understanding different health challenges will benefit the pupils at our school, and putting it into a global context will enhance their understanding and empathy of the changing world in which they live.”
Leading educators and charities including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Save the Children UK, St Mary’s Twickenham, British Science Association, Global Citizen, Malaria No More and The ONE Campaign have teamed up to create Defenders of Health: an educational game to help young people across the UK learn about health issues around the world - whether in the classroom or at home.
Sophie, 27, from Littlehampton, contacted Samaritans while struggling with depression:
“Last year I went through a dark patch where I couldn’t see a way out from under the black cloud that followed me around everywhere.
“I was ashamed.
I felt weak and helpless so I reached out to Samaritans. I just wanted the pain I was feeling to stop. It was a pretty dark time, and I couldn’t see any way out – I felt overwhelmed with every emotion and yet felt nothing at all.
“I emailed
Samaritans to start with, and when things got worse I phoned.
Just having someone listen to me in my hour of need was lifesaving.
“I am in a better frame of mind now because I run regularly – I love the buzz that I get. When the endorphins are pumping through your body, you feel unstoppable, and that you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it. I still get days or periods when I feel low, but I know that it is temporary. During these times I try to be kind to myself, reach out to family and friends for support or take some time out to rest.
“The help I got from Samaritans gave me my life back and I will be forever thankful.
I’m training to be a listening volunteer with my local branch, and if I can do for one person what they did for me then I will be over the moon.”