Glasgow Kelvin College is thrilled to announce that its trailblazing White Ribbon campaign last night was Highly Commended at the International Green Gown Award 2019 Finals held in New York.
The College’s White Ribbon Scotland campaign was Highly Commended in the ‘Student Engagement’ category, joining a field of very impressive finalists at this globally significant ceremony. The worthy winner of the category was Ndejje University in Uganda for its bio-waste recycling initiative.
Glasgow Kelvin Student Association’s White Ribbon Campaign went forward automatically to the International Finals of the Green Gown Awards, having triumphed as winner of their category at the 2018 national Green Gown Awards ceremony held in the National Railway Museum in York.
The prestigious Green Gown Awards International recognise organisations who are leading the way with their commitment to global sustainability and proving the value that universities and colleges bring to the economy and society, enabling and empowering young people to tackle pressing global issues to ensure they have a better tomorrow.
The only college to receive an international award, Glasgow Kelvin College is thrilled at this excellent recognition of the commitment to its Sustainability Agenda.
Involvement in the White Ribbon campaign - Sustainable Inclusive Social Practice has seen the Student Association, guided by Arlene Sweeney the Learner Engagement Officer, roll out the message throughout the College and into the community. The campaign strives to give men a voice in helping to oppose violence against women, refusing to view it as a ‘women’s issue’ but something which society needs to address as a whole.
Since becoming the first college to be awarded White Ribbon Status in 2017, the College has witnessed its Student Association expand and refine their delivery of the pledge message:
“I pledge never to commit, condone or remain silent about men’s violence against women in all its forms.”
Outgoing Student Association President, Shaun McLaughlin, and his small army of Student Ambassadors kept the impetus going by ensuring that groups of young students, most especially young men, are engaging with the message. Through presentations and small group discussions they have continued to recruit young people to the campaign to ‘Stop Violence Against Women.’
Several students and staff also trained as speakers to deliver awareness-raising sessions and were involved, with local MSP Bob Doris, in providing sessions for employees who work with local bookmakers to support them in getting the message across to customers in their day-to-day work. This has now rolled out Scotland-wide through MSPs and their links with the Association of British Bookmakers, recruiting over 4,000 shop customers to sign the campaign pledge.
Principal Alan Sherry, who was made a White Ribbon Scotland Ambassador recently, said;
“We are incredibly proud of the hard work and commitment of the Student Association and our staff to ensure that this extremely worthwhile campaign is spread throughout the Glasgow Kelvin community and now, throughout the world.
We were delighted to win the national award and are thrilled that the campaign has been recognised further, winning a Highly Commended accolade at the International Green Gown Awards event in New York’s United Nations Building.
This international recognition of the work of our fabulous students and staff is a wonderful endorsement of the sustainability of the campaign and the College’s commitment to capacity building. We are very grateful to White Ribbon – Scotland, EAUC and Green Gown Awards for their confidence in us and look forward to developing the campaign further.”
The Winners brochure, with feedback from the judges, is available at: http://www.greengownawards.org/international-green-gown-awards.
