Peer education in Moate Community School

Eighteen mentors from MCS recently took part in a pilot project in conjunction with Carmel Daly who is the substance use education co-ordinator with Foróige. The mentor programme is a vital asset to MCS. The programme was introduced in 2005 to help first years make an easy transition from primary to post primary school. The local committee had met as part of the Home School Community Liaison Scheme and a sub committee set up decided in conjunction with Carmel Daly to introduce a series of educational workshops for first year students. The eighteen mentors received training to prepare for their role as educators. Half day workshops on substance misuse and the dangers behind it were held in the Carmelite Pastoral Centre. The aims of the workshops were for the mentors from Transition Year and Fifth year to learn about substance misuse. They then were offered the opportunity to prepare and carry out a workshop on this very important topic for all the first years. After the four days of training, four workshops were held for the first year students. The workshops had many enjoyable yet educational exercises including debates, quizzes and getting to know each other activities. The mentors all felt they were offering the hand of friendship to the first year students. This experience gave the mentors a fantastic opportunity to see what life would be like as a teacher and gave the first year students the opportunity to explore different ideas and feelings and to also voice their own opinions. None of this would have been possible without the help and cooperation of our teachers. The school would like to especially thank the first year tutors who allowed us to invade their classrooms. A very special thank you has to go to Carmel Daly. Her commitment and enthusiasm for this project really inspired all the mentors to embrace Peer Education. Peer education proved that when the message comes from your Peers it has a far greater effect.