WorldWise Global Schools Conference: Meaningful Action

In late April, the annual WorldWise Global Schools conference took place in Croke Park with the theme of ‘Meaningful Action’. This interactive day invites post-primary teachers and students from all over the country to engage to learn and showcase their Development Education practice. Now into its 4th year it has also established itself as an important date in Ireland’s ‘Development Education’ calendar, a chance for many practitioners and NGOs to come together along with the schools participating to think critically about our DE practice.

This year’s theme focused on three of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs or ‘Global Goals’) – on ‘Sustainable Cities and Communities’, ‘Climate Action’ and ‘Responsible Consumption’. The day was opened by Minister of State Joe McHugh and Stephanie Kirwan of Development Perspectives gave an introduction to the SDG agenda for those present as well as highlighting her own work on the #SDGchallenge.

The next session was a youth panel to explore how young people are taking meaningful action on the three Goals. The panellists were Meaghan Carmody (Young Friends of the Earth), Phil Manifold (ECO-UNESCO), Annique van Niekerk (Nu – Ethical Fashion Community which was supported via Suas’ Ideas Collective), Stephanie Kirwan (Development Perspectives) and Grace McManus (Bray Refugee Solidarity Group/10,000 missing children campaign). This was a hugely inspiring part of the day for everyone present: the students got to hear from their peers about how they became activists; and the rest of us listened to a truly transformative story of young people who learned about an issue, felt compelled to do something and joined others to figure out a way that they could make a difference. What’s more, these young people had come through various Development Education interventions over the last number of years and were testament to the excellent work of so many civil society actors – NGOs, youth workers and teachers.

The rest of the day focussed on workshops on the global goals with the students as well as a separate session for teachers facilitated by WWGS, along with IDEA and Ubuntu. The workshops looked at key issues locally and globally relating to the issues as well as developing ideas for meaningful action together. The day closed with the presentation of ‘Global passports’ to schools taking part in the WWGS programme.

All in all it was an excellent event for those active in post-primary education and the Development Education sector more broadly. The event consisted of the wonderful combination of amazing attention to detail, along with mild chaos which is part and parcel of most Development Education events involving over 300 people! The panel in particular was a powerful demonstration of the potential of good Development Education Practice and the real impact that it has to encourage critical understanding and activism to transform our communities and global structures affecting our lives.

July 24, 2025
IDEA invites tender submissions from interested auditing service suppliers to provide auditing and associated professional services to the organisation from the year ending 31 December 2025. IDEA is seeking to engage an experienced auditing service firm that will provide the full range of auditing services required to fulfil its statutory obligations, to comply with relevant accounting and reporting standards and best practice. All submissions to be made to sal@ideaonline.ie You can find the full details here. The deadline for the application is Monday, 11 August, 5pm .
IDEA
July 15, 2025
Fees for members of IDEA is €50.00 and non-members of IDEA is €100.00. Fee for unwaged (refugees, asylum seekers, students, others) is €3.00
July 14, 2025
IDEA is looking for a video production company/ animator for an upcoming video project. We have funding available to create a short animated educational video resource for members as part of The Code of Good Practice. The video will help viewers understand what quality GCE is and why it matters in the world today. The intended audience for the video are people who are connected to the Code of Good Practice and GCE in their work but not yet very familiar with it e.g. non-GCE staff in member organisations, board members of member organisations, teachers, youth workers, European partners, new members to the Code and new staff to IDEA member organisations. Please submit your CV and a short letter of interest outlining a proposal for the video (including the number of days you envisage and the fee) to code@ideaonline.ie. The deadline for application is now extended to 06 August, 05pm. Click here for the full terms of reference.