A variety of guest speakers spoke to students on a range of issues this year so far as part of their GCE studies. In December, John Lonergan (former Governor of Mountjoy Prison) spoke to TY and 5th year students about his experience as Governor with an emphasis on social justice and reform.

The TY students also participated in a zoom workshop with Amnesty International where they learned all about the work that Amnesty do here in Ireland and Internationally regarding the promotion and protection of human rights for all. Students learned about the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and about how we all have the capacity to campaign for freedom, justice, truth and dignity where ever it has been denied. Students examined some case studies that are currently happening globally on this.

In January students received an online presentation from John O Shea (who founded the NGO GOAL). John spoke about his experiences working in various parts of the world providing humanitarian relief and the challenges that came with that from conflict in countries, instability and climate change. He stressed that never have the needs of vulnerable people been more pressing. He spoke about the concept of social entrepreneurship among young people and how young peoples voices are now being heard much more as we hear from people like social activist Greta Thunberg who campaigns for issues on climate justice and Malala  Yousafzai who is an activist for female education.