Schools

Did you know that you as a teacher, you and your school can get involved with The Shona Project in many different ways?

WORKSHOPS: We offer two workshops The first of focused on influence, kindness and mindset (more here) and the second is focused on confidence and finding our voices (more here). To book a workshop please fill out this enquiry form.
SHINE FESTIVAL: On October 11^th and 12^th each year, we bring together thousands of TY girls to hear from amazing female role models and celebrate International Day of The Girl. Our online site has over 140 tailor-made pre-recorded videos, along with class discussion and journal prompts on topics such as women’s health, women in sports, careers, the arts, activism and much more. For more info and to watch the content, please head over to www.shinefestival.ie
AMBASSADOR PROGRAMME: Is there a senior cycle young woman in your school who has shown leadership, kindness or a passion for social issues? Why not nominate her to get involved in our Junior Ambassador Programme. Find out more here.
LESSON PLANS: A FREE resource for teachers that links our Digital Shine Festival with the Learning Outcomes (LOs) for Wellbeing. Access more info and the pack here.
BATHROOM ART: We want to turn your school halls and bathrooms into a safe and positive space by providing a free stencil kit, which can be used by your students in whatever way they wish! All the details can be found here
SURVIVAL HANDBOOK: Each year, we distribute 30,000 FREE Handbooks to 1^st year girls all over Ireland. All you need to do is let us know how many you need. Check out the handbook here.
NEWSLETTER: To stay up to date with any new events or projects we are running and any other initiatives we love, why not sign up to our newsletter here
PODCAST: To learn more about the challenges faced by teenage girls, and how you can create a safe space to open up meaningful conversations with the young women in your lives, listen to our podcast here.
PARENTS’ PAGE: A special section on our website where we use our knowledge of young girls to help you, parents, guardians and other adults, better understand their world. Check it out here.
RESEARCH: We conducted some research with Thinkhouse PR and ISSU, asking girls across Ireland how they were doing really, and the research result were quite shocking. Have a read here

Our core workshop has been delivered in schools all over Ireland since October 2016. It is suitable for 1st to 6th year and is amended to suit the needs of your school…

Topics covered include:

The challenges we face as young women in Ireland today
How we approach and address these challenges
The people who influence us and shape us as people
How we treat ourselves and each other
Respecting and Encouraging difference and diversity
Setting goals and identifying how we can achieve them
Our place in the world and how we would like to be remembered

You can read an Irish Times feature on our workshops here.

The workshop runs for 1.5 hours and follow-up workshops to further explore the themes are available. Please email info@shona.ie or call us on 086 014 4728 for further information.

We have also recently developed a follow on workshop aimed at boosting girls’ confidence and building a positive mindset. check out all the details here.

Testimonials

The following are some testimonials from schools and girls who have worked with us:

…Every student should get to experience The Shona Project

‘As a TY co-ordinator I have experienced many workshops and presentations over the years and this was one of the most worthwhile activities that I have ever attended. I booked the Shona Project for our 2nd and 3rd year students and the one word I would use to describe it is ‘powerful’. Tammy’s personal story, the carefully chosen videos and the interactive activities really made an impact on our students and provoked a lot of discussion both with students and staff. I would highly recommend it for SPHE or as part of a school health and well-being initiative especially for Junior Cycle students and maybe TYs. Every student should get to experience The Shona Project’

Katherine O’Sullivan, Presentation Convent, Waterford

…extremely positive feedback from the students involved

We recently invited Tammy from The Shona Project to our school to hold a workshop with our second year students as part of our Positive Mental Health Week.

Tammy easily engaged the students by speaking to them about issues that are very real and relevant to young girls growing up today, using language and examples that they can easily relate to. Drawing on her own experiences, she showed the students that by making positive changes in your life and setting goals for yourself, you can succeed and achieve in life.

Through a series of activities, Tammy encouraged the students to reflect on their own behaviour and relationships with others, as well as their hopes for the future. Tammy then introduced ‘The Shona Pledge’ which all students can take and use into the future as a reminder of the positive message underpinned in the workshop.

The workshop proved to be a huge success and we received extremely positive feedback from the students involved. We look forward to working with Tammy again in the future.

Louise Murphy, Colaiste Brid, Enniscorthy

“…watching how engaged our students were was something beyond belief”

Having heard about the Shona Project, I decided to get in touch with Tammy to try and organise a talk with the girls here in St. Paul’s Community College. I felt the girls would enjoy and benefit from the Survival Kit for Girls.

So on the 28th of October arrived a day that I was really looking forward to, although Tammy had mixed feelings about returning to St Paul’s the school which she herself attended. The girls really engaged with Tammy throughout the workshop, and as Tammy is a past pupil the students could relate to the story more as they understood the setting of the story Tammy told.

Sitting at the back of the library watching how engaged our students were was something beyond belief. The girls participated in all the activities Tammy asked and some students were willing to share their reflections on past behaviour and their hopes for the future. At the end of the workshop the students did not want to leave as they had more they wanted to share with Tammy.

Following on from the workshop, I can see a big difference in our school community, the girls are looking out for each other regardless of age, hair colour, size, interests etc. It amazes me how much the students took from the workshop. I know that St. Paul’s Community College hope to work along side the Shona Project and Tammy into the future.

Laura Coffey (St. Paul’s Community College Waterford).

“…had all the students gripped and engaged at a very personal level from the start”

Tammy Darcy, from “The Shona Project” visited our school in October 2016 and presented to all first and second year students in year groups.(over 200 students) Her presentation had all the students gripped and engaged at a very personal level from the start. Her personal story and life journey with bullying, her bright manner and raw honesty was refreshing and engaging. But here is where “The Shona Project” is different and really helps. It’s more than a personal story; it’s about solutions.

Her website provides young people with advice and information about the challenges young people face, especially young girls. It gives girls a voice in an online community which is a safe place for young people. Her message was simple. “We think you’re amazing just as you are, and we want you to learn more about you. We want you to know that it gets easier, and we’re here to help”

Students in Coláiste Cholmcille has a resounding positive experience with Tammy and they would recommend that she presents her message to girls in schools throughout Ireland.

Pauline Kilfeather, School Chaplain, Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal

…the feedback was glowing and extremely positive

Tammy delivered six workshops over two days to 750 secondary school students as part of our programme of events for Connect Mental Health 2016. Tammy’s passion and professional delivery were evident from the outset and she delivered a very powerful message to all students who attended the workshops.

By using her personal experience with bullying and other life challenges she was quickly able to build a rapport with students and engage with them in a personal and very positive way. The feedback from teachers and students across the three secondary schools in our progamme was glowing and extremely positive. We can’t wait to work with Tammy again in the near future.

Ciaran McLoone, Connect Mental Health, www.connectmentalhealth.ie

…especially impressed by the power of the apologies and promises activities

We linked with Tammy and the Shona project to work with us in Marino College as part of a wider strategy to help us develop better relationships between our third year girls, a year group that had been involved in lots of in fighting in school and on line. We liked Tammy’s use of relevant and up to date video materials and were especially impressed by the power of the apologies and promises activities. We hope to have in her in to work with us again soon.

Kate Lennon and Ali Freeman Marino College, Dublin.

Everyone took something from your workshops

Thanks again for your wonderful workshops with our 2nd, 3rd and 4th years at St Aloysius College Carrigtwohill Co. Cork. Your friendly, warm and approachable manner meant all the students warmed to you straight away. Many of them could identify with you as you shared a very personal story with them. The feedback from the students and teachers who were there on the day is overwhelmingly positive. Everyone took something from your workshops. We look forward to having you back in the New Year.

Vicki Manley, St Aloysius’ College, Carrigtwohill, Co Cork.

…connected with the students who were very engaged in the process

Tammy visited our school in March 2017 and presented a number of workshops to over 200 second year students. Her honesty and openness connected with the students who were very engaged in the process. It was a reflective exercise and we hope everyone took something from the workshop.

Declan O’Brien, Vice Principal, De La Salle College, Waterford

…encourages them to reflect on their own behaviour

Tammy’s unique and personal style engages students and encourages them to reflect on their own behaviour. Her presentation was very well received by our students.

Agnes Guerin, Year Head, De La Salle College, Waterford.

“Tammy has a very natural, relaxed, style of presentation… story well told”

“Tammy embodies how you would like a teacher to be…authentic and brings her audience with her”

“Very friendly and youthful with a gentle yet informative tone”

“This is a very important topic and personalizing it makes it very powerful”