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When a young man, Ethan, from Schull, Co. Cork, saw a poster hanging on his school notice board asking him to make a difference to young people’s mental health he took on the challenge. His aim to make his school a more positive environment.  He applied to Think Big last November with a simple idea to promote random acts of kindness and to post positive and inspiring messages around his school.

His programme called Free Happiness brought benefits to both himself and his fellow students.  Seeing his school friends more engaged and more aware of the importance of looking after their mental health renewed Ethan’s levels of motivation and enthusiasm. This has since led him to successfully apply for a Level 2 award entitled ‘The Think Big Gig’ which will be an alcohol free music event for young people in Cork to promote mental health and raise funds for Headstrong.

Ethan’s project is one of 43 projects currently being led by young people across Ireland as part of our Think Big programme run in partnership with O2.  Young people from all across Ireland have, like Ethan, created a project in their community/school/college which is making a difference to young people’s mental health by simply submitting their idea on www.o2thinkbig.ie. Think Big was first launched in September 2010 and since then has being going from strength to strength.  Young people have been running programmes since November and every month the selection committee meet to approve more projects.

The variety and creativity of these programmes to date was on show at the Think Big showcase event on April 16th.  The Big Thinkers took over the O2 offices to display their work, take part in workshops and find out more about each other’s projects.  The team in O2 organised a great event for them which carried on that evening in the O2 arena when Royseven, Jamie Lawson, The Shoos, The Flaws and Bipolar Empire played. The free event was to celebrate the hard work of all the young people involved. 

If you would like to find out more about the other projects or support their work log on to www.o2thinkbig.ie and share a happy thought for each of the projects.  For every happy thought shared O2 will donate €1 to the Think Big programme.