Pink Shirt Day sees Shaw Communications announce plans to fund student-led, anti-bullying projects

Shaw Communications has announced a new initiative that will see the company provide grants of up to $5,000 for “student-led projects that promote positivity and inclusivity at their school.”

The telecommuncations giant announced the Shaw Kindness Sticks Youth grants initiative on Wednesday, the same day many Canadians take part in Pink Shirt Day, which aims to raise awareness about bullying in schools, workplaces, homes and online.

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“The best advocates of positivity and respect in schools are the students themselves,” Chethan Lakshman, Shaw Communications’ vice-president of external affairs, said in a news release. “We’ve seen extraordinary examples of compassion from young leaders through the Shaw Respect Camps and Pink Shirt Promise, and we know more can be done.

“The Shaw Kindness Sticks grant aims to turn student-driven ideas that promote positivity into action.”

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The grant program will allow students to apply online for funding between Feb. 28 and April 30. To be eligible for grants, students must be returning to their current schools in September 2018.

“All entries should suggest an activity or initiative that can empower students to come together and support one another through inclusivity and friendship,” Shaw said in a news release. “Whether it’s a buddy bench that encourages classmates to sit together and get to know each other, a community garden that is dedicated to friendship and respect, or a kindness carnival that brings games and activities that encourage teamwork and cooperation — students are invited to be creative and think outside the box in their ideas.”

Students interested in applying are “encouraged to work with their school” and can submit their ideas online. Ideas that are selected will see Shaw provide grants to the school to implement the initiative in partnership with the student. Shaw is offering 10 grants in total and will announce the grant recipients chosen by a review panel in September 2018.