The Connected and Protected Safer Internet School Grant (SISG) made its final stop at Wolmer’s Girls’ School on Monday, June 26 as the Flow Foundation wrapped up its online safety sessions for the school year.

In its inaugural year, the SISG projects impacted hundreds of students at six high schools as the Flow Foundation invited students to use creative ways to communicate the importance of online safety to their peers. The students effectively used music, drama, art and poetry to promote online safety while displaying their innate talent and creativity.

At Wolmer’s, the students participated in a real-time billboard competition, where they had one hour to design and create a billboard on cyberbullying. They used art, imagery and powerful words to share the risks of cyberbullying, proactive steps if you have been victimised as well as resources where students can get help.

At the end of judging, Wolmer’s first formers won the top prize for having the best creativity, cohesion and original submission.

“The Safer Internet in Schools Project is a tremendous idea that has helped us to engage our students around the importance of online safety and that allows them to participate in the messaging,” said faculty member Donette Wint. “We look forward to participating in future initiatives as we help our students to be safe online.”

Meanwhile, LeVaughn Flynn, Flow’s Public Relations Manager, noted that Flow is encouraged by the enthusiasm of the schools that participated in this year’s activity.

“A big thanks to all the schools that participated and joined us on this journey for the first Safer Internet School Grant,” stated Flynn.

“Successful online safety education requires a collaborative approach, and we are very happy with how the schools responded in partnering with us to promote online safety in their institutions,” added Flynn.

Six schools participated in this year’s SISG: St Hugh’s, Wolmer’s Girls, Cumberland High, St. George’s College, Morant Bay High and Kingston Technical High. The schools were chosen by a multi-partner panel following a review of their project proposals. Each school received up to $250,000 to activate their project.

The SISG is part of the wider Connected and Protected online safety campaign that also includes a Youth Summit, Senior’s Forum and the Safer Internet Monitor Programme for primary schools.