We work with amazing people to bring about positive and lasting change in some of the world's poorest places.
Education for a Just World
Education for a Just World is a joint initiative between Trócaire and the Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Education (CHRCE), St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra. The Partnership brings together expertise in global education to promote and enhance education for global justice in the primary education sector by:
- undertaking research
- developing materials
- supporting the professional development of teachers and pre-school educators
The partnership was officially launched in February 2011. To date it has undertaken significant research into young children’s engagement with issues of global justice and produced the 'Just Children Story Sack' to help explore global justice in early childhood educational settings.
The partnership is currently focused on: supporting educators use of the Just Children Story Sack through the delivery of seminars and on research into using creative writing as a strategy for global justice education with seven to nine year olds.
Partnership Management: The partnership is managed by a team involving Trócaire’s primary level development education staff and by members of the CHRCE. In this way, the partnership it is able to bring together development experts, development education experts as well as lead experts in all aspects of primary education pedagogy.
Partnership Board Members: Fionnuala Waldron (SPD), Brian Ruane (SPD), Maria Barry (Trocaire), Aoife McTernan (Trocaire), Anita Prunty (SPD) Catherine Maunsell (SPD), Elizabeth Dunphy (SPD)
Project co-ordinator: Rowan Oberman
YOUNG CHILDREN'S ENGAGEMENT WITH ISSUES OF GLOBAL JUSTICE
This research report highlights the extent to which young children have begun to develop perceptions of the wider world and of Africa, predominantly from the media and fundraising campaigns. The research also indicated young children’s ability to recognise people’s basic human needs and .to empathise with and articulate their own opinions on justice issues.
Download a full copy of the report here.
THE JUST CHILDREN STORY SACK
Launched in April 2011, this programme explores global justice in an early childhood educational setting. The story sack is built around the colourful storybook Mama Panya’s Pancakes (cover pictured left). Set in Kenya, the story depicts the journey made by Adika and his mother to their local market to buy food to make pancakes. The sack contains a puppet (pictured above), a CD, photographs and posters as well as an accompanying handbook. The handbook sets out a programme of learning experiences designed to introduce children aged 3 to 6 years to concepts such as: fairness, interdependence, near and far, similarity and difference and another perspective, in a global context.
Developed in consultation with educators and early education experts, the handbook responds to the daily reality of early childhood teaching, good educational practice and the principles and themes set out in Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework, (NCCA, 2009).
Click on the links below for a sample of what you can expect from the Just Children Story Sack:
Learning Experience 1: Getting to Kenya
Educator Information Sheet: Global Justice Education Guidelines
Educator Information Sheet: Kenya
The full resource is available to buy for €20/£18. To order yours please contact Mary Boyce on MBoyce@trocaire.ie or on (01) 629 3333.
THE JUST CHILDREN DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING PROGRAMME
Free seminars for educators on exploring global justice are available for pre-school educators, infant teachers, student teachers, students of early childhood education and initial teacher educators. They are designed to introduce participants to the programme outlined in the Just Children Story Sack.
To book a seminar contact Rowan at Rowan.Oberman@spd.dcu.ie or on 01 884 2060.
