On Wednesday 16th October, we welcomed to LYCS Neale Richmond TD, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, with special responsibility for International Development and Diaspora. The Minister attended LYCS to see first-hand the positive impact of our Global Citizenship Education (GCE) and social inclusion work. Also in attendance were Niall Tierney and Liam Caffrey of Irish Aid, the funders of our GCE programme, and Ruairí McKiernan, CEO of IDEA (Irish Development Education Association).
The morning began with a welcome from Sarah Kelleher (CEO) and Bernie Walsh (Board Member), who set the tone for an engaging discussion.
Exploring the Power of Education and Community, both local and global
LYCS has a long-standing commitment to using education, and more specifically Global Citizenship Education, as a powerful tool for development of critical thinking skills and empowering learners to take action towards a more just world.
The Emotional Scale – a visual model we use to understand human emotions and how they influence behaviour and decision-making – illustrates how emotions range from negative feelings like fear and jealousy at the base, progressing upward to positive states such as joy and empowerment at the top. LYCS’s work aims to help individuals and communities not just to gain skillsets, but also to move upwards on this scale by building confidence, resilience, and connection through education and support.
This approach emphasises the importance of prevention work – supporting individuals to recognize and manage their emotions in healthy ways before social issues arise or worsen.
Community Impact and Success Stories
The Minister met with Bernie Walsh, Ellen Corby (Global Citizenship Education Coordinator), and Martin McConigley (Deputy CEO). They presented the ways in which LYCS’s GCE work addresses challenges such as racism, poverty and anti-social behaviour through participatory education and community engagement.
LYCS’s sustained efforts and collaborative partnerships have created a tangible local impact. Our GCE programmes create spaces in which learners of all backgrounds can safely engage in discussions and explorations of challenging subjects, to work through local social justice issues. Our Gaisce GCE programme is an example of such a programme. Gaisce – The President’s Award is a national programme in Ireland that encourages young people to set and achieve personal challenges in three areas: community involvement, personal skill development, and physical recreation – it also culminates in an adventure journey. Our GCE Gaisce group takes part in a 26-week GCE programme as the Community Involvement portion of their award, exploring themes of global social justice and building their critical thinking toolkit.
The CEO team took Minister Richmond through the shared vision and collective commitment that drives LYCS forward, showcasing the importance of the continued support for programmes like ours.
Real People, Real Stories
The Minister met learners and tutors from LYCS – Ali, an LYCS student, and our Adult Ed Drama tutor, Deirdre Lonergan. Ali shared his journey from arriving in Ireland with limited English to confidently pursuing a degree in Business Administration. He spoke about having the opportunity in his GCE sessions to explore issues of environmental concerns and inequality with his classmates.
Meanwhile, Deirdre Lonergan spoke about the challenges students from disadvantaged backgrounds face and highlighted the creative teaching methods LYCS uses to help Adult learners overcome obstacles and create art responsive to issues they care about.
Closing Reflections and Creative Inspiration
The visit wrapped up with Minister Richmond , Ellen Corby and Martin McConigley discussing the future of GCE work within LYCS and across the wider world. The Minister was also gifted a beautiful stained-glass art piece made by one of our Adult Ed groups, symbolising creativity, resilience, and hope.
Looking Ahead
We were delighted to share our story and celebrate the incredible work happening daily at LYCS. The visit highlighted the importance of collaboration between government and community organisations in creating opportunities for everyone to learn, grow, and make a positive impact, no matter their background.
Thank you to Minister Neale Richmond and all attendees for their interest in our community initiatives and their ongoing support.
