Jigsaw - The Peer Education Programme
On Thursday 28th of February five of our students attended the Peer Education Programme Celebration evening in the Muckross Park Hotel. The Peer Education Programme involved our students working with Jigsaw Kerry to be trained to deliver a presentation called ‘It’s Time to Start Talking’ to 1st year students. The presentation builds awareness of youth mental health, explores what kind of things help and hinder our mental health, and emphasises the importance of seeking help when feeling down, worried or stressed.
Pictured with the students is Donagh Hennebry of Jigsaw Kerry who oversaw the project. Attending the celebration Principal Stella Loughnane remarked '' we are very proud of our peer educators and know that they will fulfil their new role to the best of their ability'' She also stated'' We are particullary in awe of Karen O Donoghue who spoke at the event, she outlined how important the programme is and how important it is to talk about our mental health''
The three Killarney schools piloted the programme in 2018, with the programme extended to the three Castisland schools in 2019.The Jigsaw mentors who work in conjunction with Ms. D O' Sullivan and the Jigsaw team were the class of 2019, Aoife O’Brien, Caoimhe Fleming, Julia Olabode and Alison O’Sullivan. leading the way in piloting the prorgamme in 2018 where Karen O' Donoghue, Emma Lyne and Natalia Leane. Building on from their work, Karen and Emma now both sit on the Kerry Youth Forum for Jigsaw Kerry with Karen now taking up a position on the National Council for Jigsaw in Ireland.
