Mrs Wright and Mr Kane were delighed to learn that the New-Bridge Anti-Bullying Ambassadors who attended the launch of the Anti Bullying Showcase in the Facebook building in Dublin ( See gallery for photos) have won the prestigious Diana Award for the sterling work they do in the College.

 

 

 

 

Year 9 student, Dylan Stewart was presented with an individual award and is pictured with Hollywood Start Will Poulter and  Westlife’s Brian McFadden.

 

 

 

For the first time the Diana Award – an award set up in memory of Princess Diana for young people– were awarded to young people from all over Ireland. The awards were presented by Hollywood actor Will Poulter at an anti-bullying event at Facebook’s European Headquarters in Dublin.

Run by the Diana Award and hosted by Facebook, this event  highlighted some of the best peer-led anti-bullying practice taking place in schools across the Republic and Northern Ireland.  Many of these young people have experienced bullying themselves and are now actively tackling bullying both online and offline with outstanding results.

The Diana award was set up as a lasting legacy to Princess Diana’s belief that young people have the power the change the world for the better. Her sons The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry support this prestigious award.

Will Poulter is an Anti-Bullying Ambassador for the Diana Award.  Will says, “I’m so proud to be supporting the amazing work of all the Irish Diana Anti-Bullying Ambassadors and particularly delighted to be presenting the first Diana Award in Ireland.  I know from my own experiences that bullying can be incredibly damaging and it’s important that young people come together to end its harmful effects.”

Tessy Ojo, CEO, Diana Award says: “We are incredibly proud to be celebrating, for the first time, the work that young people in Ireland are doing to make their communities safer and delighted to be partnering with Facebook.  Like Princess Diana, we believe that young people are key to changing their communities. The perception that bullying both online and offline is part of growing up is wrong and the Diana Award understands that early intervention is critical in the prevention of bullying behavior.  This is why we are delighted that the Diana Anti-bullying Ambassadors Programme places children at the heart of this preventative work.”

Sonia Flynn, Managing Director, Facebook Ireland, says: “The Diana Award Anti-Bullying Ambassadors programme is a great initiative. We’re pleased to be part of it and to welcome young people from all over Ireland to Facebook Dublin today.  Bullying isn’t acceptable online or offline. We believe in a culture where people feel empowered to report it when they see it and to stand up for each other. The students and teachers here today are leading the way when it comes to tackling bullying in their schools and communities and we hope that, through the Anti-Bullying Ambassadors programme, their work will inspire more young people, parents and educators to combat bullying.”

This event will showcase the work of four schools including; Belfast Model Girls School, Loreto College in Dublin, New-bridge Integrated College in Co. Down and St. Andrew’s College in Dublin.

We are very proud that Dylan Stewart, a year 9 student in the College is to receive a special award today.   Dylan was interviewed by Sunday Life and travelled to Dublin ahead of the event to be interviewed by RTE.

Dylan, an anti-bullying ambassador, changed his ways after watching a devastating film about the effects of bullying on line.  Dylan explained “In Year 8, I used to go around and bully people myself, call people names, stuff like that.  When I became involved in the Diana Anti- bullying Ambassador project, I realised the risks to people being bullied and what can happen to them.  I went to the Diana Award event in Cookstown.  I really wasn’t that into it at the start – I didn’t understand it.  Then a video was played of this little 8 year old girl who had been bullied all her life.  When she turned 16, she killed herself.  That had a big impact on me.   I knew then I wanted to change.  I knew I wanted to become an ambassador myself. When Mrs Wright asked me if I would like to become an anti-bullying ambassador, I didn’t have to think twice about it.   Dylan along with the 14 anti-bullying ambassadors in the College are amongst 600 ambassadors from 55 schools across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland being recognised today.

 

In attendance:

• Will Poulter, Hollywood actor presenting the first Diana Award in Ireland.
• Cynthia, 15 years old, from Dublin who experienced bullying and Dylan, 13 years old, from New-Bridge Integrated College – both receiving Diana Awards
• Britain’s Got Talent Finalist Jordan O’Keefe from Northern Ireland
• Westlife star Brian McFadden
• Minister Frances Fitzgerald- Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
• Sonia Flynn, Managing Director of Facebook Ireland
• Entrepreneur and broadcaster Caroline Downey
• Diana Award CEO Tessy Ojo
• Northern Ireland Junior Ministers Jonathan Bell and Jennifer McCann.
• Lord Mayor of Dublin