Celebrating Creativity and Inclusion: Shildon Youth Group Wins NE Youth Competition

We are thrilled to announce that the Shildon Youth Group won an NE Youth competition! Their project, which focused on raising awareness and understanding of the experiences of those with sight barriers, captivated the judges with its creativity and thoughtfulness.

The inspiration behind the project was to educate others about the lives of individuals who are partially sighted or blind. The group engaged in meaningful discussions about how these individuals might perceive the world and explored the barriers they face, along with strategies to overcome them. This led to insightful conversations about equality of opportunities, highlighted by incorporating the word “equality” in braille.

A standout feature of their project was a poster crafted from various sensory materials, emphasizing the importance of touch for those with impaired vision. At the heart of the poster was a hand made from glass film, which, when illuminated by sunlight, casts beautiful rainbow diamond patterns. This artistic choice symbolizes the idea that despite visual impairments, the world can still be experienced in profoundly beautiful ways through touch and other senses.

The Shildon Youth Group challenged the notion of sight impairment as a barrier, instead celebrating the unique ways individuals with impaired vision can appreciate the world’s beauty—often in ways that those with full sight might overlook.

This remarkable project not only highlights the creativity and empathy of the Shildon Youth Group but also serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of inclusivity and understanding in our communities. Congratulations to the group for their well-deserved win and for inspiring us all to see the world through a more compassionate lens.

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