CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGE
Pupils at Bankhead and St Columbkille’s united to stand up against sectarianism recently.
Primary seven pupils at both schools have been working together since February to become Champions for Change, which is an accreditation scheme for challenging intolerance and prejudice run by the Nil By Mouth anti-sectarian charity.
It all culminated in a special showcase at Rutherglen Town Hall, where the pupils displayed everything they’d learned over the past few months.
The project had featured a number of different aspects. It started with youngsters being asked their thoughts on what sectarianism actually is, with the pupils replying that sectarianism is racist, makes children be against different religions because they see it from family and friends and that it makes people judge you on your religion based on the football team you support.
James Lithgow from Nil By Mouth then delivered an anti-sectarianism workshop to both schools where pupils worked through different scenarios, aimed at helping the kids challenge stereotypes in society.
The pupils were assigned a buddy from their partnership school and contacted them through their school email accounts. Both classes also studied the novel, The Divided City, and were able to discuss the book.
Stuart Ried from South Lanarkshire Active schools, along with Trinity High School sports leaders, then ran three indoor athletics teambuilding session at St Columbkille’s to allow the pupils the opportunity to work together outside the classroom and build stronger relationships.
It all culminated with the Town Hall display, where the youngsters used different creative styles, including acting and music, to show what they’d learned in front of an audience of councillors, MSP, MPs, parents and fellow pupils, as well as representatives from South Lanarkshire Council, Education Scotland, Nil By Mouth and Sense over Sectarianism.
A spokesperson for both schools said: “The pupils’ Champions for Change work has been a truly holistic learning experience, encompassing every aspect of the curriculum. Becoming Champions for Change has been a fantastic experience for all the pupils, helping them to grow and mature into the responsible citizens we need to help shape a healthy and caring society here in Rutherglen.
“The working partnership between both schools has strengthened further and we are already looking at opportunities to work together in the new session as we continue to tackle sectarianism in our community.”
Sense over Sectarianism (SOS) very kindly provided funding to assist both schools to undertake the project.