ABOUT US

Global Citizenship School evolved from ICTU Global Solidarity conference discussions between John O' Brien (INTO Senior Official) & Maurice Hurley (former Principal teacher) in 2015.

Our vision is that all Irish primary school teachers and children will learn about global citizenship and that schools will take regular and consistent primary school appropriate action to help make the world a better place for all. The G.C.S. motto states that “We are working for a better and fairer world for everyone, and it starts with me. Ní neart go cur le chéile.” We strive to have Global Citizenship mainstreamed in the Irish Primary School Curriculum and to support teachers and schools in helping pupils become Active Global Citizens. We also aim to be a go-to support for anyone involved in Primary School Global Citizenship Education.

Our mission is to promote the mainstreaming of Global Citizenship Education in the Primary School Curriculum and to support teachers and schools in taking human rights based primary school appropriate action on local, national and global justice, equality and sustainability issues. Our website state that "G.C.S. supports teachers and schools in helping pupils become Active Global Citizens".

The G.C.S. Steering Committee hold monthly meetings, makes all decisions democratically and maintains records by way of a Minutes Book. Our Steering Committee consists of teachers, former teachers, INTO Head Office officials and elected INTO representatives who subscribe to our Vision and Mission Statement above. We work through the INTO Trade Union which has c. 43,000 primary school teacher members in the Rep. of Ireland and another c. 7,000 members in Northern Ireland .

Global Citizenship School ACTION PLAN 2023:

1.SUPPORT TEACHERS to help pupils become active global citizens:

a. Website Support: Lessons, Teaching Resources, Teacher Supports and   Suggestions for Follow-up Actions

b. Mail-Chimp Newsletters to our list of teachers/supporters.

c.  InTouch GCS articles to inspire teachers to take action.

d. Social media: GCS FB & Twitter and INTO Social media.

e. Organising Teacher Summer Courses. (both on-line & F2F)

f.   Facilitate schools sharing ideas & resources via web, zoom etc.

g. Work with teachers to organise and present workshops/CPD.

h. G.C.S. Signage (Promote. Application. Ceremony. Actions.)

2.ORGANISE G.C.S. Annual ACTIONS for school communities:

a. ‘How can I help Leave No One Behind’ - End Poverty Day (17th Oct.)

b. ‘All Different, All Equal’ - Human Rights Action Day (February.)

c. ‘That’s Not Fair’ – May Day/Decent Work action (SDG No.8.)

  Note: We promote Human Rights based primary school appropriate actions.

3.NETWORK to PROMOTE G.C.S. ACTION:

a. Work with the D.Edn. (E.S.D., N.C.C.A., Scoilnet, Education Centres, the inspectorate etc.) to promote & support the curricular mainstreaming of Global Citizenship and G.C.S. work/actions.

b. Taoiseach’s Office/DCCAE (Stakeholders) and D.F.A. - Irish Aid

c.  Promote GCS actions with teachers, INTO Officials & Elected Reps at INTO meetings, conferences & Annual Congress.

d. I.T.E.  (DICE) and the RTAI. (Retired Teachers)

e. Civic Society: Coalition 20/30, Comhlámh, IDEA, DÓCHAS, UNICEF, Green Schools, Tidy Towns, FairTrade, Red Card etc.

f.   Public & Private Sector: Local Authorities, Energy Companies, Chambers of Commerce, Sports Organisations and Trade Unions etc.

4. ADMIN: Develop our Administration systems, our Steering Committee and deepen and expand work with our Community of Practice / Supporters. 

G.C.S. works from a Human Rights basis to help establish Justice, Equality and Sustainability locally, nationally and globally. Changing the system is about getting things done. We do not work from a charity model.

1. 40,000+ Primary School Teachers

2. INTO Officials & Elected Representatives @ all levels.

3. Other Organisations: ICTU & the Trade Union movement internationally including Education International. Civil Society and Non-Government Organisations. Business and Farming organisations. Government and Political Parties. Traditional and social media - Local, national and international.

4. Global Citizenship School are current members of the Advisory Board of  Education for Sustainable Development  (ESD).

5. Global Citizenship School, together with the Irish Primary Principals Network, Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Education in DCU, Trócaire and the Irish National Teachers Organisation are working together as part of the newly formed Global Village which promotes Global Citizenship Education at Primary Level and is funded by Irish Aid. 

WORKPLAN:

Monthly Steering Committee meetings to oversee our Action Plan.

EVALUATIONS & RESULTS:

Annual review presented to Steering Committee to include statistical and anecdotal data.

REQUIRED RESOURCES COSTED PLAN: 

Maintain multi-year funding from the INTO and the use of INTO resources and staff. INTO finance committee S.C.2 to continue to oversee all GCS finances. Possible funding and resources from other sources. Currently we are a member of the Global Village consortium working in partnership with an Irish Aid to promote active Global Citizenship in the formal primary school sector.