The Benefits of Education –i4Life Development Education Project in Galway

In 2014 the i4Life  child health specialists commenced a Development education programme in Galway city and county with the intent of educating  and creatin awareness in young  students of challenges that children in the global south encoulter as a result of poverty,Human rights issues, climate change.i4life recognises that  to further develop their work in DE , they need   to build on  this valuable  groundwork  andin doing so will  increase  the capacity and sustainability of DE  in post primary schools and  carry on the legacy of development education.

The i4Life project consists of Development Education interactive workshops for teachers and pupils in various types of post-primary schools.The approach is tailored to the schools specific needs enhancing their workload as opposed to adding to the the teachers and pupils workload.  Resulting in encouragement  and promotion of  peer education in particular between teachers and students

The project has four main elements  all of which will have a social and/or  environmental dimension. Project elements  are as follows

1. Student engagement: consisting of education sessions using visual aids such as articles,documentaries,powerpoint presentation having Development Education as its focus,and linking it with curricular subjects such as Maths, English,Geography,Religious Education,Science,CSPE,and History.
2. Creative Practical Group Work .Encouraging students to examine  innovative  ideas based on research that deliver a practical solution such as plotting weights and heights on Centile Charts.Calculating deficits in nutrition.Through demonstration and interaction educating students on the screening and identification  of malnutrition using appropriate tools and mannequins.
3. Mentoring students and their teachers by providing support,incorporating critical thinking session which involves exploring the challenges that children and women from Global South endure.
4. Networking.Following the Development Education session both students and teachers can present the impact of this education through projects,posters,shared knowledge and experiences and  specific designated days such as Elimination of Racial Discrimination Day,International Womens Day,International Day of  Persons with Disabilities.

I4Life  recognises that as international Health professionals  with an ethos grounded in Human Rights, the empowerment of  students and  teachers by  collaboration to  become global citizens and heighten their awareness of social change projects is essential .

I4Life volunteers Maura Moran and Katherine Farrell  visited  St Brendans Boys School Headford where they gave a presentation to the boys of 3^rd,4^th,5^th& 6^th class.