The Kerry Education and Training Board (Kerry ETB) student forum has been shortlisted for the ETB Excellence Award for Care.
This award honours initiatives that prioritise the well-being and safety of students, particularly vulnerable ones.
The nomination recognises the Kerry ETB student forum’s Information on Vaping campaign.
They planned and ran a student-led workshop on the physical and mental health risks of vaping, the legal implications, and the supports available.
The ETBI Excellence Awards will take place at Croke Park on Thursday, 28th March.
The Kerry ETB student forum is composed of student representatives from each of the eight post-primary schools in Kerry ETB.
Kerry ETB ethos coordinator Pat O’Sullivan praised the student forum for its leadership, “This project is an incredible example of student voice in action. The Kerry ETB student forum recognised a growing issue in their schools and took real steps to address it in a way that resonated with their peers. By creating a workshop designed and delivered by students, they made the information more accessible, relatable, and impactful.”
Forum member and workshop designer Katie Stack emphasised the value of peer-led education, “When students educate each other, the message is more powerful. We wanted to provide real facts, challenge misconceptions, and make sure people had the right information to make informed choices.”
Another forum member involved in the workshops, David Hunt, reflected on the initiative, “We saw how vaping was becoming a big issue, and we wanted to do something positive to help our classmates. Working with the HSE gave us the right information, and delivering it through peer-led sessions made a real difference. The feedback has been fantastic.”
CEO of Kerry ETB Ann O'Dwyer emphasised the importance of the student forum’s contributions to the organisation, “The Kerry ETB student forum has been in existence for over 20 years, and during that time, the student representatives from all Kerry ETB student councils have made a huge contribution to policy development within the organisation, including their input into the ETB Strategy Statement 2023-27.”
