Pitlochry High School pupils have honed their research and debating skills, speaking up for good causes in the annual YPI Scotland project.
The Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) is an active citizenship programme, empowering young people in S3 to argue for and oversee a £3000 grant going to a cause they support.
Several pupil teams at Pitlochry gave a researched promotional push to charities they felt worthy of receiving the financial prize.
In 2021 the candidates supported by Pitlochry students were PKAVS, St Johnstone’s Youth Development Fund, Pitlochry Food Bank, The Neuk Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Centre, LGBTYS Perth Branch, RASACPK, mental health group SAMH Scotland, and MindspacePK, which promotes positive mental health for the people of Perth and Kinross through counselling and peer support.
At the YPI final held at their school recently, three pupils - Victoria Iskierka, Tal Cohen and Joseph Charlton - fought hard as a team, successfully representing the work done by mental health charity SAMH Scotland.
They won by pupil vote and netted £3000 to go to the charity which provides a range of mental health support and services in communities.
They were assisted in researching their cause by English department lead teacher Mrs Strathearn.
Staff member Claire Brown was delighted the annual school philanthropy project overseen by head teacher Mrs Liney went ahead this year: “The YPI is such an important event in our school calendar that ends up involving almost every department, and Mrs Strathearn has wrangled, cajoled, organised and encouraged amazingly.”
Pitlochry High School Parent Council tweeted: “Unless your children are in S3 you may not know about this amazing opportunity that our children get to shine for great causes.
“Brilliant learning and work - well done to all in S3 and the teachers involved.”
