IPPN

Best wishes to you and your colleagues for 2005. Sadly, the tragic events in South Asia cast a dark shadow over Christmas celebrations and plans for the year ahead. In recent days the IPPN Support Office has received a number of enquiries seeking guidance on how best schools can respond to, or fundraise for this humanitarian disaster.

A Human Chain

Given that media reports suggest that 40% of the victims are children, it seems appropriate that over the next few days, school children in Ireland are given an organised opportunity to discuss and reflect upon this tragic event. Such an exercise may be followed by a period of silence, in which children hold hands to form a Human Chain showing solidarity and marking respect for the large scale loss of life. It is a matter for each school whether to conduct such an activity in the context of a whole-school assembly or in individual classrooms.

Thinking about Fundraising?

In the last two weeks many families have already donated money to various agencies collecting for South Asia. That said, it is likely that children will want to 'do something' on their own initiative now that they are back in school. Bearing in mind that at least 2 aid agencies have held national collections in the last few days, and that the annual Easter Trocaire collection is not far off either, it may be wise to consult with the Parents' Association for their views before authorisng any new school based fundraiser. If you decide to go ahead and raise money for this cause, it makes good sense to channel the proceeds to the Aid Agency which your school normally supports. Some principals have enquired about how monies raised can be directed specifically towards the welfare of children in South Asia. I am aware that Trocaire has a project called 'School Bags and Home Work' where monies raised will provide for the building of schools, school kits &books and the building of family homes that have been destroyed. Trocaire also provide to schools free educational resources explaining how monies raised are used in their various projects - www.trocaire.org. Likewise Bothar is engaged in supporting families with livestock to enable them secure economic stability for their long-term future. Bothar also provide excellent educational resource material for classroom use - www.bothar.ie.

It is important to state that there is no onus on schools to fundraise above and beyond that level already taking place in the community. The suggestions offered above are merely in response to the numerous queries received by IPPN over the past week. Perhaps one of the most important things we can do with the children in our care is to imbue in them a sense of solidarity with those children less fortunate than themselves.

Is mise le meas,

Seán Cottrell, Director
Irish Primary Principals' Network.