Edmund Rice School Pupils and Homelessness

Last year a gathering of young people took place in Mount Sion, Waterford to reflect on the homelessness issue. It was decided that the students themselves would engage in a campaign to raise awareness about this issue. This campaign would take place first of all in the schools concerned: Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore, CBS Midleton, The Abbey Community School, Wateford and CBS, Carlow. It was hoped that eventually a petition would be handed in to the Minister with responsibility for housing.

This has now taken place. Just after Christmas when the schools re-opened following the holidays, a petition with 10,000 signatures was handed in to Housing Minister, Simon Coveney, T.D.

Explicit reference was made to the Edmund Rice education dimension of the reflection that had taken place in the schools and with the pupils involved.

Read all about it here

On a related note, the Edmund Rice Camps met last Saturday in the Province Centre in Dublin to coordinate the annual Coats for the Homeless campaign. With the assistance of the Edmund Rice Camp Leaders coats and other appropriate clothing are collected for distribution among the Dublin Homeless. The Peter McVerry Trust is also involved.

Well done to all who took part in both initiatives!