A destroyed car is seen outside a school in Homs, Syria. Photo credit: CNS Caoimhe Judge describes the impact of development education on students in her school
Earlier this year Louise Merrigan, a representative volunteer from GOAL, and her colleague Alliyah, a native Syrian who works with GOAL, gave an informative workshop on the topic of conflict to the Transition Year classes in Sacred Heart School. The Transition Years had previously attended a talk given by Louise before Christmas and had presented her with a cheque for €1,550 which was raised from our school’s Jersey Day on October 15 in aid of the Syrian Refugee Crisis.
They expressed such an interest in the subject that they asked GOAL to return again. The workshop began with an interesting brainstorm about conflict and how it can affect the lives of various groups of people within the country of conflict, Syria, and in other parts of the world.
The girls got stuck in and began to discuss among themselves how conflict can drastically change someone’s life so quickly.
One of the most unique and intriguing experiences was hearing from Alliyah, as a Syrian herself. She
gave a vivid picture of life back home and how this conflict has changed lives so suddenly.
Captivated
The students were captivated as we see this issue covered on TV, the internet and in newspapers, but to hear from someone who has experienced this conflict at first hand was definitely an eye-opening experience. The girls became more clued-in and more curious about the happenings in Syria. Then Louise showed a striking and emotive video.
The video displayed a drone flying over the once prosperous, atmospheric and lively city of Homs. Jaws dropped and heads shook at the images and sights the girls had just seen. A dormant, destroyed and ghost-like fallen city filled the screen. After the siege of Homs – a busy city only 15 minutes away from Alliyah’s home town – countless lives and homes had been lost and the city was left to rot. It was something like you would see in a horror film. Whispers filled the room and the girls discussed how something has to be done to stop this. It put everything the girls had heard about, read about and seen into perspective.
The next part of the workshop involved discussing conflict closer to home. We tend to forget that we too have experienced some conflict.
Louise read out some headlines from ‘The Troubles’ and to the students’ surprise they sounded a lot like the headlines we read about today concerning various other conflict-filled parts of the world.
To finish the workshop the girls were separated into teams to place the most important needs during a conflict to the least important needs in a conflict in a descending line. This was an extremely difficult task to complete.
When put into this position it’s challenging to differentiate what you would class as a top priority need when there are so many basic rights and needs. Lastly, the girls discussed some ideas and projects in order to raise money for GOAL and to also raise more awareness about the Syrian crisis.
Overall, we had an enjoyable and informative morning that drastically changed our views on the conflict in Syria and encouraged us to make others much more aware about this crisis that requires our urgent help. Thank you, Louise, Alliyah and our teacher, Ms Austin.
Please follow this link to learn more about the wonderful work GOAL does to help communities around the world. https://www.goalglobal.org/
Caoimhe Judge is a Transition Year student in Sacred Heart Secondary School in Drogheda, Co. Louth – one of 110 voluntary Catholic secondary schools managed by CEIST (Catholic Education an Irish Schools’ Trust).
A sense of justice, values and respect
In Sacred Heart Secondary School in Drogheda, Co. Louth we are committed to fostering and promoting the CEIST Charter Values of Justice and Responsibility, Community, Personal Development and Respect.
Our school nurtures in its students a sense of their cultural identity, an appreciation of the diversity of cultures and a respect for people of other races and religious traditions. Through the curriculum and the various activities of the school, the staff and students are encouraged to reflect critically on issues of social justice at local and global levels.
Our school promotes and facilitates faith in action programmes, providing opportunities for each member to be active in identifying and alleviating forms of injustice in and beyond the school community. Our school encourages its members to take an active role in supporting local and global charities.
We would like to take this opportunity to highlight the work undertaken by GOAL by providing Developmental Education Workshops in schools to encourage students and staff to become active global citizens and play a part in raising awareness for those living in conflict by starting to talk about global issues, critically thinking, getting involved in campaigns, advocacy or fundraising. – Fiona Cairns (PR Co-Ordinator, Sacred Heart School)