STUDENTS from Okehampton College were among the prize winners in a poster competition focussing young people?s attention on the issues facing refugees. Youngsters from schools across Devon took part in the poster competition held as part of nationwide Refugee Week. The overall competition winners and winners of the Key Stage 4 category for 14 to 16 year olds (pictured far right) were Esther Glaser, Jemima Jones, Margot Douglas and Beth Mitchell from Okehampton College. Key Stage 3 winners in the 11 to 14 age group were Katherine Hurdle and Asenath Back-Chamness, also from the college. Devon?s director of children and young people?s services Anne Whiteley presented the certificates and prizes to the winning teams at a special ceremony in Exeter. It is the first time the poster competition has been held in Devon schools. Devon County Council?s curriculum services launched the competition to encourage the teaching of refugee issues as part of the citizenship programme in schools which is also a key component of the Devon Healthy Schools Award. Praising the winning designs, Mrs Whiteley said: ?The colour, impact and the messages are so important when it comes to what it feels like to be a refugee. ?It is important that we challenge people when they are unkind to refugees and understand what they can bring to our culture.? Annette Hughes, of the Refugee Support Group Devon, which works with refugees in Exeter, said: ?We really welcome this initiative from the county which will broaden the understanding of what makes people refugees and get students discussing issues of human rights.?
