Scoil an Droichid: Helping the homeless

Location: 20 Cooke Street, Belfast, BT7 2EP

Website: http://www.scoilandroichid.com/home/

Entry Date: 01 December 2017

Global learning is not just about the ‘far away’, but can have a strong local aspect too. Scoil an Droichid has done a lot of excellent work on homelessness, a global problem, which has particular resonance for pupils attending the school. On their way to class in the mornings, they sometimes see homeless people on the streets. This motivated them to want to do something to help.

The inner-city school has formed very close links with a homeless charity in Belfast called the Welcome Organisation. Pupils have visited the Welcome Organisation regularly and completed class-based research on homelessness. They have also engaged in fundraising activities on behalf of the Welcome Organisation and decorated and donated shoe-boxes filled with things homeless people might need. Pupils now have a deep understanding of homelessness and a great empathy for those in need.

The school has also begun to grow food. In future, pupils hope to donate this to the Welcome Organisation for use in meals for the homeless.