The Bigger Idea – Colaiste Abbain Adamstown

Why as a team did you choose to focus on this challenge?

We decided to focus on this challenge because we feel like this is a topic that is not talked about enough in general and in our community. A lot of people are excluded from the normal society because of diversity and how they identify. An issue like this can affect individuals or communities deeply. We want to try tackle this. Even things like money can be involved in diversity and especially with us being a country school that may affect many people we know and it is not a thing to feel bad about.

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What do you know now about the challenge that you didn't know before?

From our research, we discovered that the primary characteristics of diversity are gender, race, sexual orientation, age and physical appearance. We also learned that groups which will formerly be seen as “minorities” may reach majority status by 2044. 48% of Gen Z are racial or ethnic minorities. Diverse companies also enjoy a 2.5 times higher cash flow per employee and diverse management has been shown to increase revenue by 19 percent. Adding diversity to every day life has more benefits them to exclude them.

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What have you learnt about your Hero?

Emma Watson for gender equality. We learned that one of her great efforts has been in favor of gender equality, which led her to launch the HeForShe campaign, seeking to involve men in the quest for gender equality and also to break with gender-based assumptions. Lizzo for body imagine. Lizzo owns her body and promotes for other people to think how she does. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for all around diversity and equality. They donate to many charities and made their own foundation. Meghan served the United Nations (UN) as the Women's Advocate for Women's Political Participation and Leadership.

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If you could improve one thing for your Hero what would that be?

One thing we would improve for our Hero's is their quality of life. They get and have gotten too much backlash for trying to promote and help the things they believe in. Many people and online accounts bully them and we don't think this is fair.

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Do you have any ideas for a potential solution? No matter how raw, share them with your Mentors for feedback.

A solution we are considering is bringing our challenge to social media. We want to make accounts and do posts to raise awareness for diversity and how the affects of being judged and excluded can break down someone's mental health. We may get a few students of different nationalities to talk about their traditions and cultures. We will put up posters of different nationalities, races and sexualities. We will also talk about gender stereotypes.

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Ask your Mentor anything …. This is a chance to ask your Mentors a direct question relating to your Big Idea.

Is there anything that you think we could get funded or fundraise for that will help our project to progress or be more effective.