Kinsale Community School Honoured with Global Passport 'Gold' Award for Excellence in Global Citizenship Education and Sustainability

Students and teachers at Kinsale Community School have earned a national award for their work towards creating a better world. Kinsale Community School received a Global Passport from WorldWise Global Schools at a conference in Dublin’s Iveagh House attended by Deputy Sean Fleming (TD), Minister of State with responsibility for Overseas Development and Diaspora.  

The Global Passport recognises the school’s work exploring global issues such as fast fashion, sustainability practices, human rights issues and their work with the Stella Maris school in Tanzania.

To earn the passport, students and teachers have studied the root causes of global injustices, raised awareness and taken action as global citizens to create a better future.  

Kinsale Community School has integrated GCE into its curriculum in various ways. One of the key aspects of GCE is promoting awareness and understanding of global issues. To achieve this, we have organized workshops and conferences that address global issues such as climate change, sustainable development, and human rights. These events bring together students, teachers, and experts from different fields to share their perspectives and experiences. 
 
One example of a GCE project that we have worked on as a school this year have been our BEAG Erasmus project. This project has focused on exploring what it means to be European and engaging with Global Citizenship Education through a critical lens. As a school we are increasingly aware at our students’ sense of insular identity rather than European mindedness. The choice of title for this project, connects to this idea. B.E.A.G: Being European, Acting Globally plays on the idea of Ireland being a small nation within the European context. However, within our school context we envision our role in developing our students’ European identities as crucial to their sense of belonging on a global scale. With this in mind we also want to develop Global Citizenship activism as a key tenant of our students’ education. The project has required students to consider their cultural, national, and local identities and historical and current issues that inform their identity. They have to critically engage with global justice issues and Europe role and responsibility in terms of root causes/equity and perspectives. 
 
As a school we are invested in GCE and developing our students as future changemakers. We have embedded a changemaker programme, identifying students who lead as young activists. We have linked with 3rd level and the Hub in Active European Citizenship, we are in the process of planning the first MUN conference to be held in our school, led European conferences with stakeholders from 13 different countries and lead the way with sustainable practices and greening our campus. We are really proud of the GCE work in our school and development of the skills and competencies needed for the next generation of activists in Kinsale. 

In addition to achieving the special passport ‘Gold’ award, the school also received the Community Practice award. This award is for the recently launched initiative, a YEA project called; 'Whats Up With The Single Use Cups?'. Our students are working on bringing in reusable plastic cups into the school and the wider community, the aim of the project is, in conjunction with Transition town Kinsale, to reduce the use of single use disposable cups. 

To round up a really successful year of GCE, 6th Year student Lilian Gleave has also received the Student capacity award. It is difficult to sum up what a remarkable student Lilian has been during her time at Kinsale Community School. Lilian possesses a rare combination of intelligence, leadership, and a genuine passion for making a difference in her community and the world at large.  Lilian has many accolades from first-place victory in the Young Reporters for the Environment competition in the secondary category to winning the regional water ambassador title for the south of Ireland at the Water Awards, further showcasing her dedication to water conservation and sustainability. She willingly gives her time to educate and train other students, community members and leaders in Ireland and on a wider scale. She has demonstrated her willingness to engage with experts in the field, most recently as part of her role as a panellist at the European Commission's working group on schools, demonstrating her ability to engage in global issues and contribute meaningfully to discussions on GCE, sustainability and climate change. In addition to this she has presented research at the National Stakeholder's Forum on Climate and the 2022 Conference on Intergenerational Climate Justice. Her involvement in the National Youth Assembly on Climate further shows their dedication to youth engagement. It is through her dedication to environmental sustainability, as the Chairperson of the Green Schools Committee and a Climate Ambassador that we have seen Lilians biggest contribution to others. Her volunteer work with Spunout and her contributions to the European Union Schoolnet highlights her commitment to youth support and education. Most recently Lilian was recognised by the Cork Environmental forum for her activism on fast fashion, winning an individual recognition award and also received the climate ambassadors outstanding achievement award. She is a brilliant activist and we are so proud of her work. 

The recognition and awards received by Kinsale Community School stand as a testament to the exceptional commitment of its students and staff to global citizenship education (GCE) and sustainable practices. Achieving the Global Passport 'Gold' award, the Community Practice award for the 'Whats Up With The Single Use Cups?' initiative, and the Student Capacity award for Lilian Gleave highlight the breadth and depth of their efforts. The school's focus on understanding global issues, promoting activism, and fostering a sense of European identity among its students is commendable. Lilian Gleave's exemplary achievements not only in environmental sustainability but also in youth engagement and education serve as an inspiration to all. As Kinsale Community School continues to lead the way in GCE and sustainability, it is evident that they are shaping the next generation of changemakers and activists, making a significant impact both locally and globally.