Press Release
September 24, 2021 • 2 min read
GOAL are launching a new learning resource, Water Wishes, for primary school students and teachers at a virtual event on Thursday 30th September 2021 at 4pm.
Water Wishes is part of GOAL’s Global Citizenship programme and explores life below the water and the importance of maintaining healthy oceans and waterways to 1st and 2nd class students.
“This curriculum-linked resource uses fun, participatory methodologies and audio-visual materials to take children and teachers on a trip from the rivers of Ireland across the ocean to the mangroves of Honduras,” said Victoria Walshe, Global Citizenship Manager at GOAL. “In Water Wishes we meet people from Ireland and Honduras, sharing their stories about the ocean, and learning about how we can make the world a fairer and more equal place for everyone.”
GOAL is inviting teachers, student teachers, or anyone interested in better understanding how our world is interconnected to join the launch event. Ms Walshe believes the resource, which has been successfully piloted in classrooms, is a vital tool in preparing the next generation to be more ecologically minded.
“This resource is informed by GOAL’s learning from over 40 years of working with different communities globally, many of whom rely on the health of our oceans and rivers for food and livelihoods. Today, almost 800 million people around the world do not have access to clean water near their homes, and even more suffer from malnutrition and hunger. Educating and raising awareness of the importance of our waterways and oceans is crucial in ensuring the next generation make the right decisions when it comes to protecting our planet. We all need to act now to protect the world we live in, and part of that means educating our children.”
All GOAL primary school resources are available in both English and Irish, and lesson plans have been designed to meet the needs of online, blended and in-person spaces, to ensure effective delivery. GOAL also offer workshops for primary school groups. The GOAL Global Citizenship programme plans to return to in-person classroom workshops in early 2022. Currently, they are offering remote Water Wishes workshops, among others, with GOAL staff calling in live to classrooms.
