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Teachers

Empowering Young People to Make Life-Changing Choices

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Ms Hunter's personal experience with organ donation has fueled her passion to educate young people about the importance of registering as organ donors and discussing their wishes with their families. Ciara Hunter, an English teacher at Fort Hill Integrated College, has played a pivotal role in a Public Health Agency (PHA) campaign promoting organ donation awareness among students. The initiative, endorsed by Stormont's Education and Health Ministers, aims to empower pupils with accurate and age-appropriate information about organ donation and transplantation. Teachers can now download free resources to deliver during Organ Donation Week (September 22-28), which has been endorsed by Mike Nesbitt and Paul Givan.

Key Takeaways:

  • The PHA campaign, led by Ciara Hunter, aims to educate young people about organ donation and transplantation, promoting the importance of discussing wishes with family members.
  • The new initiative provides free resources for teachers to deliver during Organ Donation Week, covering topics such as organ donation, transplantation, and the opt-out system.
  • The resources have been designed by teachers for teachers and provide personal stories from donor families, living transplant recipients, and individuals on waiting lists.
  • The legislation around organ donation changed to an opt-out system on June 1, 2023, with "Daithi's Law" making everyone a considered donor unless they have opted out or are in an excluded group.
  • The Education and Health Ministers, Mike Nesbitt and Paul Givan, have endorsed the initiative, emphasizing the importance of empowering young people with age-appropriate information about organ donation.
  • The Department of Education, CCEA, and the Education Authority have supported the promotion and rollout of the material to schools.

Statistics:

  • 2023: The legislation around organ donation changed to an opt-out system, with "Daithi's Law" taking effect on June 1.
  • 2018: Daithi MacGabhann, a young Belfast boy, has been on the heart transplant waiting list since then.
  • 32: The age of Clare Hunter when she passed away from a brain injury in 2020.
  • 16: The age of Ciara Hunter when she got her own organ donation card.
  • 17: The age of pupils who will receive the free resources and awareness about organ donation and transplantation.

Sources:

  • Stormont's Education and Health Ministers visited Fort Hill Integrated College.
  • Public Health Agency (PHA) - headlined working group.
  • Mike Nesbitt and Paul Givan - endorses the project.
  • Department of Education, CCEA, and the Education Authority - support the promotion and rollout of the material to schools.
  • [The Daily Telegraph](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10330629/Stormont-Health-Minister-Paul-Givan-Mike-Nesbitt-endorse-organ-donation-campaign.html) - Daithi's Law.
  • [BBC News](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-57971856) - Organ donation in Northern Ireland changes to opt-out system.

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