We are excited to announce that Kewa A. (S1) has been selected as one of 40 pupils across Scotland taking part in an ambitious Government funded project to embed race equality and anti-racism across all schools by next term.
Launching this week, ‘Captains’ is a programme organised by the charity, Show Racism the Red Card. The programme aims to ensure the voices and experiences of Scotland’s ethnic minority young people are heard and will feed into the decision making process for curricular reform.
Ahead of its launch, the charity received hundreds of applications to join the Captains programme. Kewa is delighted to be named as one of a selected few across Scotland leading this campaign for change.
Kewa said:
“I am very excited for this new position and want to try and make as much change as I can. It is an honour both for me and the College”.
Mrs. Freer, from our Equalities Group added: “This is an important charity to St. Aloysius’ and we are delighted to continue our involvement. Everyone at the school, especially the Equalities Group are so very proud of Kewa and we can’t wait to see what happens next!”
Jordan Allison, Campaign Manager at Show Racism the Red Card said:
“Captains is an exciting, first-of-its-kind opportunity for our young people to lead change from within our education system. We thank the Scottish Government for supporting this with £43,000 of funding to deliver the campaign.
“Sadly, Show Racism the Red Card has heard from hundreds of pupils, parents and teachers in Scotland on their traumatic experiences of racism in our schools. Pupils at St. Aloysius' College can take inspiration from Kewa and acknowledge their role as powerful change agents. The lived experience of our young people can and will play a crucial role in ensuring our schools are a safe place for all."
Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:
“Diversity, equality and respect for others are at the heart of policies that underpin education in Scotland.
“We need to be vigilant in challenging racist behaviour and focused in creating anti-racist environments in our schools. That is why this work, which Show Racism the Red Card is doing to ensure children and young people’s input to our Race Equality and Anti-Racism in Education Programme, is so important.
“Where racism occurs, it must be challenged using appropriate reporting mechanisms, and prevented through the development of an anti-racist curriculum, delivered by racially literate educators and school staff.”