Stay up-to-date with Trócaire's work overseas, get news on key global social justice issues, and find out about our latest campaigns in Ireland and how you can get involved.
This year on the Trócaire Box you will learn about 12 year-old-twins Patricia and Patrick and their family. Climate change is devastating their lives and livelihood and too little or too much water is a daily struggle for the family.
We have created thoughtful stories and activities which will encourage discussions, debate and ultimately a deeper understanding of the struggles faced by thousands of families just like Patrick and Patricia’s around the world. You can find out more and download the stories and activities in the ‘Stories and Activities’ section below.
This year we would love to hear about your ‘Fundraising Stories’. To be entered into a draw to win a prize for your school or class, we want you to share what you’ve done to support communities who are experiencing extreme weather events due to climate change. We are also asking students to design, create and build their own Trócaire Box once again with our ‘My Trócaire Box Activity’.
Details of how to enter the ‘Fundraising Stories’ competition and the ‘My Trócaire Box’ activity can be found at the bottom of this page. If you have any questions or would like to be added to our mailing list, please email us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you.
We have put together a fun and engaging programme of stories and activities to help your students explore the lives of Patricia and Patrick and their family along with so many families in Malawi facing similar challenges.
You can read these stories and complete the activities to help your students bring to life what they have learned. We have given you plenty of guidance, tips and ideas along the way.
Climate Change in Malawi: This year, we want to bring you on a journey to beautiful Malawi, which has the highest levels of poverty in the world, and despite being one of the countries least responsible for climate change it has been severely impacted by its effects. Download the PDF to read more of the story, where you can meet 12-year-old-twins Patrick and Patricia and find out how their family is coping with climate change in Malawi.
You can also use our interactive quiz and games to give your students a better understanding of how much water we use daily and the challenges the family face to ensure they have enough water.
Download Story and Activity Sheet 1Too Little Water: What does too little water look like for Patricia and Patrick? Patricia, Patrick and their family live in Machinga district in southeastern Malawi, an area which is increasingly being affected by extreme weather caused by climate change. The dry season from April to October is now lasting longer and sometimes the rains don’t start until December or January. To read more of the story and how too little water is affecting the family download the PDF.
You can also choose from activities which will enhance your students understanding of how too little water can affect their lives.
Download Story and Activity Sheet 2Too Much Water: How does too much water ruin crops and damage houses? We often see how damaging drought can be to the environment, but increasingly we’re seeing how much devastation can be caused by floods, even more recently here in Ireland. Parts of Malawi are also experiencing these extreme weather conditions. Download the PDF to find out more.
For activity three you can choose from activities which will enhance your students understanding of how too much water can affect lives.
Download Story and Activity Sheet 3A day in the life of Patricia and Patrick: Learn about a typical day in the lives of these school children in Malawi, and how they are both similar and different to children in Ireland. Their day starts at 6am and the first chore of the day is to walk 20 minutes to the nearest stream to collect water with their mother, Malita, and their older sister, Margaret. To find out more about their day download the PDF.
The final activity encourages your students to have a better understanding of a day in the life of students in rural Malawi and to learn about their language and culture.
Download Story and Activity Sheet 4This year we would love to hear about your ‘Fundraising Stories’. To be entered into a draw to win a prize for your school or class, share what you’ve done to support at-risk communities suffering the adverse effects of climate change.
Make sure you email us at [email protected] with your story by the end of April to be in with a chance of winning a prize for your school.
Once again we are asking the students of Ireland to create and build their very own Trócaire Box with our ‘My Trócaire Box’ activity. We were so impressed by the response, talent and enthusiasm last year and thank you to everyone who submitted their designs.
See below for the link to the My Trócaire Box template which you can download and print. The class with the winning design will win a prize worth €250 euro for their school and there will be runner-up prizes too!
Make sure you return your designs to [email protected] by the end of April to be in with a chance of winning a prize.
