Bishop’s Stortford College Students Launch The Rainbow Project

  • 7 years ago
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Sixth Form students at Bishop’s Stortford College have launched a new initiative called The Rainbow Project, aiming to raise awareness of bullying and share ideas on how it can be prevented.

Inspired by Anti-Bullying Week theme ‘A Power for Good’, Sixth Form students at Bishop’s Stortford College have launched The Rainbow Project to raise awareness of bullying and share ideas on how it can be prevented.

7269b4c0c2b811e6a67c7f3bc3daca4cAround 30 pupils have formed the group which they hope will become a lasting power for good. Their aim is simple – to ensure that prejudice and discrimination never gain a foot hold or become tolerated in the College community and to raise awareness of the national and international issues around this subject. They want to put issues of equality, diversity and inclusion firmly on the agenda

Simrhan, a pupil in the Lower Sixth (Year 12) commented, “The idea is to encourage young people to realise the power we have individually and collectively, and use this power not to intimidate or pressure others, but to create the most welcoming and happy environment possible for everyone, regardless of their diversity in relation to gender, gender identity and sexual orientation. The rainbow is a symbol of that.”

To make this happen, each House (there are 9 in the Senior School) has appointed a Rainbow Project Ambassador who will encourage their fellow pupils and Housemates to stand up to bullies and bigots, to never be a bystander and to put a stop to abusive behaviour wherever they see or hear it. Bryn commented “Hate affects all of us, because where you see homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, you are also likely to see other types of social exclusion, discrimination and prejudice, whether that’s because of faith, gender, ethnicity, disability, age, nationality or anything else that marks out our individual differences.”

Felix summed up with “The student led environment, enabled by the College, shows how effectively and cohesively we can work when given the right tools. I believe that by setting up this group we are giving a voice to whoever in the school wants to speak up and be heard. We are showing that with brilliant cooperation between staff and pupils we can start something that is really quite special and of that I am very proud.”

The group plans to hold regular meetings, share ideas and meet other like-minded people to discuss important local and global issues surrounding all forms of prejudice and discrimination.

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