We began our Schools of Sanctuary Journey back in March 2020, just two weeks before the schools were closed due to the pandemic. We were visited by Andy Pollak and Reverend Philip McKinley, who explained the programme and invited us to participate as one of two Dublin pilot schools.
They explained that they were both involved in the Places of Sanctuary Ireland www.ireland.cityofsanctuary.org which oversees a network of 13 groups throughout Ireland to welcome asylum-seekers and refugees to our country and to help them integrate into our society. One their projects is Schools of Sanctuary, which works to create a culture of welcome and inclusion in Irish schools, north and south. The Schools of Sanctuary movement is already established and very successful in Northern Ireland, with over 40 recognised schools there. Andy and Philip explained that they were hoping to duplicate that success here in the South.
A video by Diana Lenciauska, TY Student
It was an easy fit with our school ethos and something the whole school could engage with. As such, our Board of Management signed the pledge and we embarked on our plans to incorporate the simple model of LEARN, ACT and SHARE about what it means to seek sanctuary into as many curricular subjects as we could. We quickly realised that so many of the things we were already doing and learning about were creating that safe, welcoming and inclusive environment that is key to becoming a School of Sanctuary.
Over the past two years, the whole school has learned about and actively engaged with the topics of migration, the refugee crisis and discrimination. We have learned about the cultural and linguistic diversity that exists in our own school community and celebrated it at every possible occasion. We have also put ourselves in the shoes of newcomer students and tried to anticipate their needs so we are in the best position to welcome them thoroughly into our school.
We are now preparing for our monitoring visit by the Schools of Sanctuary Ambassadors on Friday 29th April 2022 where we will showcase some of the excellent projects, initiatives and student work that reflect the whole school’s commitment to being an inclusive, welcoming and vibrant school at the heart of the community.
For a more detailed insight into our journey, please visit our portfolio of evidence here: https://padlet.com/sennis1/5s6m2hq4rnxz8r6
More details about the programme and how to become a School of Sanctuary can be found on their website: https://schools-ireland.cityofsanctuary.org/become-a-school-of-sanctuary