Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Sean Fleming T.D., has launched the second of two 2023 editions of the popular online magazine Global Goal Getters, featuring the work of primary school pupils across Ireland taking part in this year’s Our World Irish Aid Awards. Seven individual projects from six Dublin city and county primary schools are amongst the 34 submissions from 24 schools across Ireland chosen to feature in this year’s second edition of Global Goal Getters, making Dublin just one of three counties with primary schools featuring in both editions. The Global Goal Getters magazines are now available to view online at ourworldirishaidawards.ie
The Our World Irish Aid Awards form an important part of Ireland’s commitment to overseas development and global citizen education. This helps to reinforce the importance of the global development work carried out by the Government on behalf of the people of Ireland. This year the awards attracted more than 250 submissions from schools across the island of Ireland. This year’s theme urged pupils to follow the lead of activists such as Pakistan’s education campaigner Malala Yousafzai, who in 2014 became the youngest ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17, and raise their voices in support of Equality for All.
Local schools included Our Lady Queen of the Apostles School, Clondalkin whichis the only school in Dublin to feature in both editions of Global Goal Getters. Featuring in Edition 2 are two projects. The first project saw 6th Class pupils teach their 2nd Class peers all about climate change while the second project is a presentation outlining the activities 5th Class pupils took part in within the local Clondalkin area. Fifth Class pupils at Loreto Primary School, Grange Road, Rathfarnham submitted three pieces of art each demonstrating how important equality really is. The first is a justice/balance scale with people keeping it perfectly balanced, while the second piece shows the importance of gender equality. Their final piece illustrates a world where animals and humans should be treated the same. And third Class pupils Ellen, Eabha and Lola from St. Damian’s National School, Perrystowncreated a wordsearch containing a series of words based on the important work carried out by Irish Aid in key countries.
Congratulating pupils and teachers, Minister Fleming said “Many congratulations to Our Lady Queen of the Apostles School, Balbriggan Educate Together National School, St. Helen’s Senior National School, Portmarnock, Loreto Primary School, Grange Road, Rathfarnham, St. Damian’s National School, Perrystown and St. Paul’s Special School, Beaumont on being featured in our second edition of Global Goal Getters. This reflects the hard work of both pupils and teachers, all of whom have spent time learning about and discussing the issue of equality and how each of us can make a difference to the world. “The Our World Irish Aid Awards are an important opportunity for young people to learn about issues such access to education and the impact of climate change. These are vital issues that greatly impact millions of people’s lives around the world. “I have recently returned from a visit to Malawi to see how Irish Aid-supported programmes are helping people there. Climate change is reducing the amount of food people can produce, while many young people, particularly girls, are not accessing education. It is important for young people in Ireland to learn about these inequalities and about how they can make a positive change.”
