Students take part in Be Strong Online Ambassador Training
KSA recently held a digital resilience programme called ‘Be Strong’ organised by The Diana Award Anti-Bullying campaign. Our Anti-Bullying Ambassadors as well as students from Thomas Deacon Academy and Thetford Grammar School attended the programme.
KSA recently held a digital resilience programme called ‘Be Strong’ organised by The Diana Award Anti-Bullying campaign. Our Anti-Bullying Ambassadors as well as students from Thomas Deacon Academy and Thetford Grammar School attended the programme.
The focus was on empowering the students to be positive role online models to their peers and to help their peers navigate the online world safely. The students explored digital issues such as cyber bullying, social media, online privacy, selfies, gaming and more in a fun, interactive and informative workshop.
The students will now use what they have learnt to embed the programme in the Academy.
Year 7 students Clark, who took part in the programme said: ‘The day was really fun and I learnt a lot through the activities. The scavenger hunt was my favourite where we had to find clues around the room.
‘I didn’t realise how many people are on their electronic devices for such great lengths of time.
‘I became an Anti-Bullying Ambassador because it gives me the chance to help people and make them happy. The training today has helped me to understand more about the online would and has helped with my confidence to speak aloud.’
Maya, a representative from the programme said: ‘Being a Anti-Bullying Ambassador and Be Strong Online Ambassador is so significant because young students standing up in front of their peers and talking about these issues is so much more impactful as they can relate to their peers more than us as adults. It is also incredibly empowering for the students presenting to their peers and teaches them key public speaking and leadership skills.
‘The students have grown in confidence today, which will help them gain the ability to face and address these issues. They have also had the opportunity to network with other schools and share their ideas about the online world.
‘The tech world is overwhelming and we try to educate young people that although they cannot control it, they can control their behaviour and if they wouldn’t do it off line then they shouldn’t be doing it online.’