A Schools for Resilience SfR Learning Programme
This project was initiated by Davie Phillip, Cultivate, Cloughjordan. It currently involves secondary schools in Ireland (Wicklow and Clare) and Denmark. Colaiste Chill Mhantain was invited to participate in this pilot project as part of an existing module within our school; Sustainable Education. This new Transition Year (TY) module was introduced to the school two years ago by our teacher Ms Minnock. |
The Schools for Resilience (SfR) project is an innovative learning programme taking a new approach to environmental education and education for sustainable development in schools. It is based on actions towards healthier, more responsive, and more resilient local communities, and developing the competencies students will need in the 21st century to collaboratively engage with challenges such as climate change.
SfR aims to encourage students to engage with their local community and develop a resilience-building project in the areas of energy, waste, food or transport. The project should build the community’s ability cope with challenges, link local issues to global sustainability issues and help to encourage, motivate and create new opportunities for young people to actively participate in their communities.
The teaching plan for this learning programme will suggest activities that can be driven by young people and that can be implemented in their community. It is envisioned that the projects undertaken will reinforce their connection to the people and the environment around them, and therefor strengthen their own and their community’s resilience.
SfR aims to encourage students to engage with their local community and develop a resilience-building project in the areas of energy, waste, food or transport. The project should build the community’s ability cope with challenges, link local issues to global sustainability issues and help to encourage, motivate and create new opportunities for young people to actively participate in their communities.
The teaching plan for this learning programme will suggest activities that can be driven by young people and that can be implemented in their community. It is envisioned that the projects undertaken will reinforce their connection to the people and the environment around them, and therefor strengthen their own and their community’s resilience.
This website was created by Ms Minnock, with articles written by TY students Liam Tierney & Jack Reburn. It is hoped that it will develop further to be used as a teaching resource toolkit for other educators who my wish to carry out a similar initiative in their schools.
Special thanks to Moira Byrne & Wicklow County Council for their Local Agenda 21 funding to support this new initiative.
Special thanks to Moira Byrne & Wicklow County Council for their Local Agenda 21 funding to support this new initiative.