By Michelle Crean

Killarney students proved that their projects can make a positive impact after being honoured at the Young Social Innovators of the Year Ireland (YSI) Awards.

SOCIAL INNOVATORS: Members of the 'One Punch Can Kill' project from St Brendan's College received the Young Social Innovators 'Make Our World Safer Award'.

The five members of 'Operation Red' in St Brigid's Secondary School were celebrating this week after receiving a national Bronze Award for their project which is raising awareness about the lack of knowledge surrounding menstrual disorders. Their goal is to encourage open discussion on these issues, so no woman ever feels alone. The team will receive a prize bursary of €750, which can be put towards developing their idea and increasing the impact of their innovation.

Young Social Innovators is a non-profit organisation that believes in the power of youth. Its vision is to empower, equip and inspire young people to change the world for good. The girls' project was one of 34 shortlisted from over 400 YSI groups around Ireland.

"As part of our project we're in the process of developing resources for the SPHE classes in our school," Transition Year student Anna Cashman told the Killarney Advertiser.

"We'll try it here as a pilot project and branch out to other schools."

She added that plans so far include educating students by putting an information booklet together using HSE and NHS advice.

"It's important to have the right information as it's a very under researched issue. We have had a positive response to it."

Cait Fitzgerald Healy from YSI arrived to the school as a surprise to the group and presented the girls with their trophy towards the end of the online ceremony. There was huge excitement all round! Teacher and mentor Catherine O'Donoghue also received the 'Let them Shine' award for her involvement with YSI over the last five years.

MAKE OUR WORLD SAFER AWARD

Picking up the 'Make Our World Safer Award', a team from St Brendan’s College was recognised for its 'One Punch Can Kill' project, which aims to combat toxic masculinity and raise awareness amongst young men of the seriousness of ‘one punch attacks’.

When researching the issue, the team found that many perpetrators rarely reoffend and the percentage of male-on-male violence in society is extremely high. The group examined the route cause of the issue, which stems from a variety of factors, and wanted to raise awareness that spontaneous and random 'one punch attacks' can have serious and life-changing consequences.

Amongst its many actions, the team embarked on media outreach, designed and delivered student workshops, created a poster campaign, held an Anti Violence Week and is currently working on a children’s book in an effort to promote the important message that 'One Punch Can Kill'.