Me to We and its charity partner Free The Children have been awarded a $200,000 grant to support their school-based programs, including a new pilot program aimed at empowering youth to prevent bullying in their communities.

Half of the grant, or $100,000, will help launch Me to We's new Stand Up! Leadership Program in up to 10 communities throughout the province. Thirty students from various schools will be brought together to participate in three-day student-led workshops focused on bullying response and prevention, while at the same time creating and maintaining a sustainable safe school environment.

Students will learn communication skills, teamwork and advocacy to promote supportive, caring, anti-bullying behaviour. When they return to their schools, these student ambassadors will bring with them action plans to create stronger, more inclusive learning environments as a way to prevent bullying. The communities hosting the program will be announced later this fall.

The grant's other $100,000 will continue to support Free The Children's annual youth empowerment We Day event - the fourth year in a row the Ministry of Education has provided this funding.

The Stand Up! Leadership Program complements government's ERASE-bullying strategy by helping to provide a safe school environment for students. The strategy, announced last June, is the most comprehensive provincewide anti-bullying and threat-assessment school strategy in Canada.

It includes a five-year, multi-level training program for 15,000 educators and community partners to help them proactively identify and address threats. To date, almost 4,000 educators and community partners have been trained in 50 out of 60 school districts.

Quotes:

Don McRae, Minister of Education -

"We know that the group that can make the greatest impact on changing the culture around bullying are students themselves. The Stand Up! Leadership Program is going to provide our youth with the tools, resources and knowledge to make positive, lasting changes in their schools, communities and wherever their futures lead them."

"Me to We/Free The Children is doing some amazing work here in B.C. and around the globe promoting social responsibility in youth. Hundreds of schools and thousands of students across the province participate in We Act programs, and this grant will continue to support the valuable work that's being accomplished."

Devon Kennedy, director of operations, Western Canada, Free The Children -

"Investing in young people and ensuring they have the support they need to be confident in themselves and become leaders in their community is at the core of what we do. On behalf of everyone at Free The Children, and our partner Me to We, we are truly thankful for the tremendous support the Ministry of Education in B.C. continues to provide us, and the future of our young people."

Learn More:

Me to We: http://www.metowe.com/

Free The Children: http://www.freethechildren.com/

BC's Education Plan: www.bcedplan.ca

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963