‘We are Connected’ was the song that opened our first Edmund Rice Youth Ambassadors’ Global Meet on October 21st. The sentiment of the song was evident throughout the 90-minute digital gathering of 95 participants; made up of student-social justice activists, advocacy coordinators, network colleagues and supporters.
Buoyed by Br. Brian Bond’s opening words of encouragement, who highlighted the need for justice and advocacy work in our schools now more than ever due to current serious global problems threatening our human rights, students from across the globe shared the projects and campaigns they are involved with in a bid to create a fairer, cleaner world for all.
We had participants from Africa, India, North and South America, Ireland and the UK. Some in Canada were online from 7am whilst in India it was evening time. There was a feeling of great commitment to the Youth Ambassadors program reflected in the high quality of presentations and preparation which had gone into them. It was great to hear from Indian schools how they had engaged with the Justice Meet on gender equality and how care for the Earth, especially the elimination of single-use plastics in their schools is a priority for their advocacy groups. Sharing very practical ideas such as producing oil from plastic, tree-planting, reusing and recycling of paper as well as promoting Fridays for Future, peaceful protests and how to engage the school community were also all highlights from the Indian schools’ presentations.
From Canada and the USA, we heard about the great commitment of students to service, both in the local community and in immersion programs. There is great work happening to support people made homeless. We also heard how a variety of clubs and action groups are engaging with social justice work.
From Ireland we heard about campaigns schools have been involved with to promote peace and sustainability, how they have become Schools of Sanctuary in support of refugees and how cultural diversity is being celebrated in schools.
From England we heard how advocacy groups are engaging with local vulnerable groups, being present with them and learning empathy in order to become advocates for them.
From Africa we heard how creativity such as songs, poetry and art are effective ways of drawing awareness to social justice issues, we also heard how specific days such as founders’ day can be employed as days of outreach and action.
It was wonderful to hear from so many schools in our Edmund Rice Network and from partner Networks such as the Holy Cross schools. Many schools have already signed up for the Global ERI partner schools programme and all are encouraged to join this new partnership that provides opportunities for collaboration and networking. Some schools were very new to the opportunity of international collaboration such as St Martin’s Catholic school in Liberia and we were happy to welcome Little Flower School, Guntur and Holy Cross H.S.School, Thoothukudi from the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod network in India.
‘We are Connected’ in our gospel-led work to make our communities, locally and globally safe, sustainable and equitable. The passion and commitment of the young people in our schools aided by their staff mentors gives great hope that the future is in safe hands. We look forward to our next meet in around 6 months’ time but in the meantime encourage regional meetings and collaborative work. ERI and the partner schools will continue working together, sharing campaigns and strategies for effective advocacy.
Some additional relevant links:-
A Global Campaign we can all take part in :-
Students Rebuild The Spark Peace Project
Homelessness Awareness Campaign
– Ann Nichols ER England