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Show you care by being dementia aware – that’s the key message local students taking part in this year’s Young Social Innovators competition – are keen to spread.

A group of six caring Transition Year students from Killarney Community College, were inspired to focus their project on dementia and set up ‘Be Dementia Aware’, with a slogan ‘Under the Umbrella’, to help raise awareness and funds on the disease.

And not only have they set up a social media campaign - they’re also educating students in their school, organising fundraisers and getting their message out to the community.
They will be fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland and local services by holding a ‘Wear Denim for Dementia’ Day in Killarney Community College, on March 8. A bake sale and a purple ribbon day is also being organised by the group to raise funds and awareness of dementia.
Young Social Innovators has inspired youth from all over Ireland to focus on a social issue of their choice, make a change and to fight for what they believe in, in their local communities and further, teacher Lorraine Crowley, Young Social Innovators Guide in Killarney Community College, explained.
“These students are extremely passionate about this topic and I am so proud of how hard they are working on this project to spread awareness about a very important issue that effects many families these days.”
The students want to raise awareness about dementia and its impact on individuals and their families, provide reliable information about dementia online and in the community, and also aim to promote information about brain health and ways to prevent dementia, she added.
“Most importantly, they want to help to create an environment where everyone can support people with dementia and their loved ones through their difficult times.”
The group have interviewed Vanessa Bradbury, a dementia advisor who works with the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland, and some people who have family members with dementia in their local area, to learn more about how it affects the family of the person with dementia, and get some first-hand information about how dementia changes a person.
Daily updates can be found on their Instagram page:@be_dementia_aware, on Twitter: @BDementiaAware, as well as their Facebook page: Be Dementia Aware, where they are reaching a wide audience.
They also post self-produced educational videos about different areas of dementia on their social media pages and on their YouTube channel: Be Dementia Aware.
“We are very thankful for the support ‘Be Dementia Aware’ are getting and the students hope to spread their message as much as possible to help families in and around Killarney.”