CIT hosting LGBT training day

CIT is to host its first LGBT training day for secondary schools this week.

CIT’s LGBT Society will host Ireland’s first LGBT training day open exclusively to secondary school students and teachers today, 23 January, at the college. It’s a follow on from last year’s launch of their Gay/Straight or Gender & Sexuality Alliance Handbook (GSA) in March.

The aim of the training day is to empower secondary school students to be able to create an inclusive, and safe environment within their schools for all pupils and to provide them with the tools they need to successfully set up and run their own GSAs. With multiple workshops around various LGBT+ topics running simultaneously students will choose what topics most appeal to them and which workshops they’d like to attend. The event will also provide workshops for teachers and secondary school staff members to enable them to support their LGBT+ students. Workshops will be facilitated by Youth Workers and reputable LGBT+ organisations such as Gay Project, LINC, Gender Rebels among others and will see 170 students and teachers receiving free training on the day.

Konrad Im, Chairperson of CIT LGBT Society, said: “Our committee members are extremely excited to be in a position to host such an important event. Recent statistics found an overwhelming percentage of LGBT+ students did not feel safe in their schools makes these events even more vital for young people in Ireland than ever.

“And it’s important to us to ensure the next generation of LGBT+ young people receive more support than we ourselves and our Society members did. We’re delighted with the response from schools in Cork but would like to welcome many more to the event.”

Bookings from schools are still being taken for the event and more information can be found on gaystraightalliance.ie.