SaskTel is gearing up for the new school year with its I Am Stronger program.
In partnership with the Ministry of Education, SaskTel is encouraging youth to apply for a grant and help build awareness about bullying.
Unity Composite High School juaccessedSaskTel initiative two years ago when Alana Neil was seeking a way to kickstart the newly developed idea of a program in the school called Activate.
Alana, along with fellow students and guidance from teacher/parent committee members, successfully earned UCHS a grant from this program, which was used to initiate the Activate program, now in its third year.
Sasktel’s program is designed to influence the change needed to stop the activities of bullying and cyber-bullying.
SaskTel acknowledges the products and services it sells may be used to conduct bullying activities.
“Bullying of any kind is unacceptable in our schools and we’re pleased to continue our work with SaskTel’s I Am Stronger program,” Education Minister Don Morgan said.
“As school starts again for the year, I encourage all students to think about how they can be leaders in their community”
The I Am Stronger website offers information about the grant program and has a thorough section dedicated to resources for kids, teenagers, families and educators. It also includes the ability for victims of bullying or cyber-bullying to get help and report bullying activity safely.
“Since the program launched in 2014, we are excited to have offered 27 grants to date totaling $25,735,” said Ron Styles, SaskTel president and CEO.
“We are pleased to assist with empowering our youth to turn their ideas into actions that positively influence social change in schools, communities and online.”
UCHS also hosted speaker/rapper Uncle Adams, a motivational speaker, rapper, role model and proclaimed counter bullying activist, last year. He created a special song/rap for the I Am Stronger campaign as well as talking to students about anti bullying tactics.
UCS students have used the definition for the word activate — to set in motion, to make active or more active, to organize or create — to define their program.
The Activate campaign empowers students to activate personal well-being both emotionally and physically, starting with kindness towards one another.
Students continue to promote on their Twitter feed @UCHSActivate and newly developed Instagram page, along with life-size and regular-size posters in the school. Their message is also mass marketed throughout Saskatchewan through emails, Facebook pages and other platforms.
UCHS students kicked off another year of Activate by welcoming new Grade 7 students with positive and encouraging affirmations on their lockers as they arrived at school. An Activate team took part, along with their mascots, in the Warrior football Friday night lights game, showcasing their enthusiasm and encouraging students to become active participants and engaged in the program.
