St. Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel, has a rich tradition for helping others in need throughout the world. However, through Development Education initiatives the students are now learning about the causes and solutions to many problems being faced by millions of people around the globe.

In recognition of the great efforts of promoting Development Education, St. Louis have recently been awarded the ‘World Wise Global School Passport’. Open to all post-primary schools in Ireland, St. Louis are the first school to receive this award in Northern Ireland. On hand to receive the award in Limerick was Dr Finola Cuanne (SSL) who brought the in turn presented the award to St. Louis at an special assembly held recently at the school.

To obtain this award St. Louis students have developed an increasing awareness and understanding of the rapidly changing interdependent and unequal world in which they live. The students engaged in numerous debating activities, writing competitions, workshops, and action projects for both local and global citizenship.

Development Education is a direct and active educational response to the issues of inequality and injustice that characterize the world we live in. It involves an approach to education that is driven by the core values and attitudes – justice, solidarity and empathy – and has at its heart a radical and transformative agenda to challenge the structural causes of poverty and inequality. St. Louis students have developed a high level of understanding in the promotion of action to transform the social, cultural, political and economic structures which affect lives at all levels in all societies.

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