by Jake H. (G12) and Ronan B. (G12)
Adding onto their inclusive community, ICS is launching a new partnership under all three pillars of CAS (Creativity, Activity, and Service). Best Buddies is a non-profit international organisation and their mission is to establish "a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, inclusive living, and family support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)". Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies has grown into an international movement with chapters in Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, and communities around the world.
But what does this mean for ICS? Essentially, a student will be paired up with a student who has IDD and over time, hopefully, they will not only foster a connection with these students, but you will also improve their quality of life by helping them feel more integrated into our school environment. It is essential that as a society we provide these individuals with the help that they need to reach their potential. The globally recognised Best Buddies programme will soon become a part of the school's CAS opportunities, aiming to foster friendships, enhance social integration, and provide mutual learning experiences among students.
Why Best Buddies at ICS? This introduction aligns with ICS’s priority to cultivate an inclusive and compassionate environment. This addition to the CAS programme enables us as a community to bridge the gap between students with and without IDD, leading to understanding, acceptance, growth, and, hopefully, lifelong friendships. Best Buddies is a unique opportunity enabling us to make a difference in the lives of our peers, and it is not about service hours, but it is about creating meaningful relationships and creating an inclusive community.
This project will function through a structured pairing system, where students are paired with students with IDD based on common interests and needs. These pairs will then engage in various activities which are designed to not only entertain and support the students, but to also create trust and camaraderie. These activities will vary based on the students, but it could include things such as social events like film nights and sports games, to academic support sessions. On the other hand, there will also be group activities, allowing all individuals to interact and build a connection among a larger community. Such events will be fun and educational, allowing students to learn new skills and embrace the diversity within our community.
This project will also benefit the mentors as it is a chance to develop their leadership skills, empathy, and a deeper and richer understanding of diversity and inclusion. Furthermore, these mentors will receive professional training on how to effectively support and communicate with their buddies. Such an experience is invaluable, promoting personal growth. On the other hand, for students with IDD, this programme provides them with friendship, social engagement, and a sense of belonging. This is essential as such individuals may face social isolation, so the ability to form meaningful connections will profoundly impact their self-esteem and overall well-being.
The introduction of Best Buddies at ICS is launching next year. We sincerely hope that this becomes a legacy project in hopes of expanding our reach from our school environment. Initially, we will focus on IDD students who are in ICS in order to enhance our school environment. However, in the future, we hope to work with other schools close to ICS to expand our community.