We're helping in our own fashion

MY TV WEEK:Emily Byrne (15), Villiers Secondary School, Limerick

‘AT THE MOMENT, we’re getting ready for the 19th annual school fashion show. It takes place at the end of October, and all money raised will be donated to Self Help and other charities. Self Help send food and emergency relief to people in refugee camps or humanitarian crisis situations. I’ll be taking part as one of the models, but the real work will be done by the student organising committee.

“Meanwhile, some of the transition year students are getting ready for a concert for Mental Health Week. We’ll be singing in Limerick’s Augustinian church, along with the fifth- and sixth-year students and other Limerick choirs. All the preparation is being undertaken in our music workshops, which is one of the modules on the TY course.

“Mental health issues are close to our heart. We’re involved in Young Social Innovators, and our project is on mental and physical disabilities. We’re aiming to raise awareness, through local and national media, that students with disabilities are not supported in education beyond the age of 18, an issue that affects the family of a girl in our class. We want to build links between our school and secondary schools for students with special needs.

“Also this week, three students have gone to Glencree Reconciliation Centre in Co Wicklow to see the great work they do and meet up with other schools. We’ll also been undertaking a lot of interesting activities. This week, half of the class will go to an activity centre and the other half will go sailing. Then we’ll swap over next week.

“Transition year has been great so far. It’s a fantastic opportunity to try out things we wouldn’t have done otherwise.”