On Tuesday 9^th June, the Parkhall Integrated College's Saphara Be the Change Award team set off early for Stranmillis University and College for the Newcomer event day, the final part of their Be the Change Award. Together with their peers from Ashfield Boys' High School, Dominican College and St Malachys College the team hosted newcomer children and their peers from primary schools in socio-economically deprived areas. The students delivered a day of crafts, games and activities which they planned and developed to help the primary 5 children explore identity, community and self worth. This experience, aside from being beneficial for the students, is a potentially life changing experience for the younger children.

Our students agreed they felt an developed their confidence, communication and team working skills through working with students of their own age from a diverse range of religious, ethnic and political backgrounds. As well as this they developed a new found empathy for teachers and the hard work they do when managing groups of students.

We look forward to welcoming Education Director, Paula Stronge, and Janice Armstrong, Communications and Education Officer to the college in September to present the whole team with their awards.