THE
MOVEMBER FOUNDATION
The leading global organization committed to changing the face of men’s health.
Creating a Movember initiative at your school to encourage students to get significant male adults in their life to initiate conversations with their doctor and loved ones about early detection of prostate cancer and their mental health and wellbeing. The goal for creating awareness about the early detection of prostate cancer and positive mental health for men.
Schools are beginning to work with students in the area of Mental Health now. Participating in Movember is a great and fun way to get involved and help spread the word about encouraging men to initiate conversations with their doctor about prostate cancer and mental health.
Some ideas to create a Movember Campaign are below. Also, contact Andy Mead (Movember Winnipeg Committee Member) at amead@sjsd.net for more info or check out
Start of Movember – Registration and Excitement:
Each school can create a team and have teachers lead along with all students
Students/families can register with your team at any point throughout Movember
For added value during this week or the next, have students go on Movember.com and research what Movember is all about (growing moustaches to raise awareness, education and funds for men’s health)
Could also have students in a class (physical education, homeroom) create a brief presentation on what Movember is to them. Students could also collaborate as a class and simply have a discussion on what Movember is and why they think it is important.
It might even be fun to ask what students think Movember is prior to researching, and then have students regroup after researching using the website and to share their thoughts.
Some example questions to ask students (Movember can create more, plus an answer guide):
- What are the official rules of Movember?
- What are men who grow during Movember called, and what do they
do?
- What are women called, and why are they so essential during
moustache season?
- How many people participated in Canada last year? How many
worldwide?
- How much money was raised last year in Canada? Worldwide?
- Name three of the moustache styles in the Movember style guide.
- What is MOVE and why is it important?
If students are engaged, encourage them to help plan some Movember events as Movember committee. This is a great way to get male students involved in a cause.
Mid-Movember – MOVE events, awareness and education
Students and teachers can pledge to become more active this Movember. Whether this is walking to school, riding a bike, doing some exercise during class by dancing for a few minutes. Really anything that gets them moving. They can even set goals and chart their progress in home room.
Have students create groups and lead MOVE event in Phys. Ed. class.
· This can be any simple activity that they are willing to lead. The more creative the better – not just sports.
Encourage them to be proactive about their health.
Movember aims to reduce stigma, increase awareness and understanding, and impact on access to care for all Canadians. Create conversations about mental health in the classroom:
- What is mental illness?
- Why do people hesitate to talk about mental illness?
- What does stigma mean?
- Is there a difference between an illness such as cancer and mental illness?
- How do people live with and beyond mental illness?
- What are some options for people experiencing a mental health issue?
- Speaking to someone, being physically active, eating healthy etc.
End of Month – Shave off/ assembly/ FUN!
- Cap off an amazing month of moustached excellence!
- Hold an assembly where the Man of Movember, Miss Movember.
- Play games (IE.pin the stache on the principal or any game to kids moving)
- Recognize some of the champions of Movember. Most engaged, most creative ideas, best
MOVE event, etc
- Hold a MOVE event that puts the teachers and students in a competition
Other options: In the end it is about making it as fun and creative as possible during a month that can drag on! Bring students and staff together through the power of the moustache. It’s a hilarious way to talk about serious issues and raise some funds.
Other Ways Kids (who generally can’t grow moustaches can get involved)
- Photo boards in hallway of Mo growth Weekly updates on Mo Progress for school Movember team
- Donate to the team and get to choose their Mo Style
- Hold sports games with a Movember/moustache theme
- Create a moustache wall with paper Mo’s Sell stick on moustaches (for example: Movember Mondays) for 50 cents or a dollar. Profits go to the team account.
- Put a moustache on your school
- Snd home information to promote about Movember to encourage families to get involved, get check out, be active
