Now is the time to reinforce messages of global solidarity. 

This year our Annual Conference 2025 Reclaiming Ground for Hope, Alternatives, and Action brought together educators, community leaders, artists and activists from across Ireland, to reflect, reconnect, and reimagine the role of transformative education in building a better future.   

In the morning, the conference was addressed by Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond TD. Addressing members, he spoke about the importance of GCE for our society. He also re-affirmed Irish Aid’s commitments to Overseas Development Aid and Global Citizenship Education funding.   

“Examining and discussion complex global issues can be daunting, but they also foster values of equality and human rights which can enable us all the become informed global citizens; able for active democratic participation and able to stand up for others to have this right too."  

Now is the time to reinforce messages of global solidarity.”  

The Minister also stressed the importance of effectiveness and impact for Irish Aid and urged members to bring these issues to ‘the next level’.  

“But in this environment, it is incumbent on every one of us implementing projects and programmes with Irish Aid funding to focus relentlessly on the impact and on reaching the furthest behind first. We need to demonstrate that impact with increased effectiveness across the whole Irish Aid programme. 

We have invested over €33.6million in support to our GCE partners since Irish Aid's Global Citizenship Education Strategy was launched in 2021 by Simon Coveney. That commitment delivered by many partners here today underpins the importance of supporting critical thinking and public awareness of these rapidly changing and interdependent issues. We need to bring that critical thinking to all our work.” 

You can watch the full video below!