De La Salle College in Dundalk have completed their The Lasallian Leavening Fund project which was used to give students the opportunity to engage in a meaningful project by painting the school benches around the campus bright, vibrant colours associated with their school crest: blue, green and yellow. 

Beyond beautifying the campus, the initiative created a lasting legacy of collaboration, care for creation, and commitment to social justice – strengthening the school community and students’ personal and spiritual development.  

The aim of the project was to provide a calm and pleasant space for staff and students, and to engage different students/members of our school community guided by the core Lasallian Principles.

Students were involved in all stages of this project including the planning stage and the implementation stage which saw them develop their team-work and collaboration skills.

The project allowed students to live the Five Core Principle and was very much aligned with the Lasallian values that:

1. Promote the Call of the Church and the Institute for the Care of Our Common Home and an Integral Ecological Commitment

2. Promote Awareness of Catholic Social Teaching and Action in Favour of Those at the Peripheries

3. Promote Spiritual Formation among Students and Young Lasallians

By integrating these elements into the project, the painting of benches becomes more than a physical task. It serves as a reflection of Catholic values—care for the environment, commitment to social justice, and spiritual growth—grounded in the teachings of Laudato Si and Catholic Social Teaching.

Benefits to Students and Young Lasallians:

Leadership and Empowerment: Students took on leadership roles and gain ownership over the project, fostering independence and a sense of responsibility.

Teamwork and Collaboration: Working in groups helped students develop social skills and learn the importance of working together for a common goal.

Practical Skill Development: Students involved gained hands-on experience in planning, painting, managing a project, and working with sustainable materials.

Spiritual Growth: By tying the project to Laudato Si, social justice, and spiritual reflection, students deepened their understanding of Catholic teachings and learned to integrate faith into action, in an informal, inclusive setting.

Sustainability Awareness: Students became more environmentally conscious and gain knowledge about sustainability practices that they can apply to other aspects of their lives – particularly when dealing with the environmentally friendly pain and ensuring that all rubbish etc. was dealt with in an environmentally sound manner.

Community Engagement: This project promoted a sense of pride and stewardship for their school environment, helping them feel more connected to the physical space and their community. By involving students at all stages of the project, they developed leadership, practical, social, and spiritual skills while contributing to a project that benefits the entire schools community.

The general consensus was that the project was a success. Informally students reflected after the project with their peers and teachers.Students mentioned experiencing and sense of achievement and that they had contributed to the school community. The Le Chéile autism class students also mentioned that they really liked the hands on nature of the project and that they felt part of an inclusive, school wide project. The students particularly liked collaborating with the Leaving Certificate Applied students and loved the ‘chats’!

De La Salle College Dundalk wishes to thank the district of Ireland, Great Britain and Malta for their financial support in this initiative.