Second level
Bringing global issues into your classroom is easier then you might think. Irish Aid can offer you resources, ideas and information to help students at junior cycle, transition year and senior cycle understand the links between their lives and those of people in developing countries. We can help you to bring global development and human rights issues into your teaching in a variety of subjects including English, Geography, CSPE and Religion, and for cross-curricular work.
WorldWise Schools: Going Global - find out how!
If your school is interested in linking with schools in developing countries, debating development issues, organising workshops, or developing courses on global justice, visit the WorldWise Global Schools site to learn more.
Our new programme aims to encourage students to learn more about development and to spread the word. Working through networks of schools, teachers and students in participating schools will be supported to integrate a global justice and development dimension through curricular and extracurricular activities.
Congratulations to winners of the ‘Science for Development’ Award at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2013
Three students from Clonakilty Community College, Cork were the winners of the Irish Aid/ Self-Help Africa ‘Science for Development’ Award at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2013. Fergus Jayes, Darragh O’Donovan and Ciarán Crowley developed a project on the design and development of an improved solar fridge.
Science for Development Award
Irish Aid, in partnership with Self Help Africa, sponsors the ‘Science for Development’ Award at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. The award encourages young people to explore how innovative science and technology can be used to bring about benefits in the lives of poor people in developing countries.
Irish Aid’s support for agricultural development is central to its broader fight against poverty and hunger in developing countries, particularly in Africa where the majority of people depend on the land for their survival. Working with governments, we help smallholder farmers to benefit from scientific research and supports the development of rural infrastructure, water management and sustainable farming.
2012 winners
In 2012, Keane Nolan and DJ Hanley from St Mary’s Academy, CBS, Carlow were the winners of the award for their project on ‘The comparative analysis of raw versus pasteurised milk and the potential use of natural preservatives in milk to mitigate the effects of poverty in rural Africa’. As part of the award, the students were sponsored to travel to Ethiopia to test their project in the field.
School workshops
Bring the world to your classroom by taking part in school workshops and our exhibition in the Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre, O’Connell Street, Dublin.
Students from Transition Year and Senior Cycle can explore global development issues such as food and hunger, sustainable development and the role of aid.
The multimedia exhibition on food and farming in a village in Malawi takes us into the life of an 18-year-old girl and her community, with all the joys and sadness that life brings.
The villagers, who face the constant challenges of providing for themselves and their families, value the new ideas and resources for improving their farms that science can bring.
Visits are free of charge and last 90 minutes. Teachers are provided with pre-visit and follow on resources.
Making Our World One World Award: Young Social Innovators
Encourage your students to take part in 'Making Our World One World' Award in the Young Social Innovators (YSI).
We sponsor a special development award within the Young Social Innovators - 'Making Our World One World'. The YSI Awards promote active citizenship through a strong focus on social issues. Through our Award, we are encouraging students to include a global justice dimension in the projects they submit.
In 2012, students from St Peter’s College, Dunboyne, Co. Meath won the award for their project entitled ‘Let Them Listen’, which raises awareness of the denial of human rights in Zimbabwe. A total of 38 projects were submitted for the Award.
Find out more about how your school can take part in 'Making Our World One World' Award
New Irish Aid resource: Global Teacher Pack
This is a new cross-curricular teaching resource on global development suitable for all years across second level. It will help you to explore issues such as food security, women and development, climate change, governance and HIV and AIDS with your students.
The lessons, which are based around case studies and human interest stories, include active participative methodologies that promote critical thinking and engagement in classrooms.
Key skills development as recommended by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment are an integral part of each lesson.
This pack, which is available in English and Irish, contains lesson plans, worksheets, case studies, information and vibrant colour photos and maps for use in your classroom.
Global Schools (PDF)
Global Teacher
Download the free Global Schools (PDF)