Stories
September 10, 2020 • 3 min read
GOAL is to launch its 2020 Changemakers Programme aimed at inspiring primary school students all over Ireland to take action to create a more sustainable and fairer world.
The programme is being launched ahead of Global Goals Week (September 18th – 26th), a call to action for world leaders, citizens, organisations and institutions to commit to using the next ten years to deliver all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Global Goals Week coincides with the convening of the UN General Assembly for the first time since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. This year the UN is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The Assembly will be doing a check-in on progress on achieving the SDGs.
Pupils from Our Lady Queen Of The Apostles in Clondalkin participating in Changemakers 2019
The GOAL Changemakers Programme invites students who have returned to the classroom after months at home due to COVID-19 to learn about the 17 UN Global Goals. The goals were agreed by world leaders to end poverty, fight inequality, stop climate change and protect our oceans, flora and fauna by 2030.
The Global Citizenship programme is suitable for primary school students from 1st – 6th class and has been developed in line with the Department of Education and Skills COVID-19 response plan for safe reopening of primary and special schools, and the NCCA curriculum recommendations for this year. The programme is available in both English and Irish.
GOAL is offering support for Changemakers in three formats:
- Classroom-ready Changemakers Lessons: Curriculum-linked resources for teachers with creative activities and interactive audio-visual materials in classroom-ready PowerPoint format.
- Changemakers Video: For classes who don’t have time to do the lessons plan, there is a five-minute Changemakers video in which young Changemakers talk about their own experiences of undertaking actions in their communities. Pupils can do follow up activity after watching the video.
- Teacher Support: As the GOAL Development Education team can’t visit classrooms in person, they will support teachers with step-by-step webinars answering questions and inviting inspiring speakers.
Every class that takes part will receive a beautiful World Map for their classroom and a certificate of recognition for taking part in the Changemakers journey.
Third class teacher Paula Frances Galvin, of Our Lady Queen Of The Apostles School in Clondalkin, who participated in last year’s programme, said: “The GOAL Changemakers Programme is a great way to engage classes in a real-life project which can encompass many curricular areas, as well as being based on values of human rights, global justice, sustainability and equality.”
GOAL Global Citizenship Manager, Nina Sachau, said: “As the UN prepares to celebrate its 75th birthday, and with the world facing one of the biggest global crises of our times, taking action to build a more fair and sustainable future has never been more important. This programme will give students the information and motivation they need to become changemakers.”
She added: “People around the world are currently living through the COVID-19 pandemic which is adding to the challenges of climate change, poverty and global injustice. Children can be overwhelmed, and we have to ensure they are resilient and active actors in the shaping of their future. It is heartening that this generation of incredibly conscientious and active young people and educators are taking so many actions to bring about a fair and sustainable world.”
For more information on the Changemakers Programme visit:
https://www.goalglobal.org/changemakers/.
And details on Global Goals Week are at:
