Secondary education programmes

We offer five key secondary education programmes and plenty of workshops and talks for students to gain a deeper understanding of developmental and global issues.

Concern Debates is an all-Ireland year-long competition for students ( fourth–sixth year). Each year, over 140 schools across the island of Ireland debate topics from climate change to corporate responsibility.

The programme gives students the opportunity to learn skills in research, critical thinking, and public speaking. It also helps students to reflect on, and try to tackle, some of the most important issues facing the world today.

Interested in the Concern Debates?

Speak Act Do is a brand new programme for 2019 which aims to support teachers and students to take action on important global issues. Sign up a class or a whole year group, research and explore the local and global impacts of one of five topics (Gender Equality, Climate Action, Conflict, Hunger or Inequality) and with support from our schools team, organise and plan two actions focusing on your issue.

The programme aims to deepen students’ knowledge and understanding of global issues, understand how they impact on the lives of communities that Concern work with globally and take meaningful action locally and in solidarity with people who face these issues around the world. Students can showcase their project at our annual Agents of Change student event which takes place in March/April each year.

Interested in taking part in Speak Act Do?

We offer development education workshops for secondary schools to help introduce, or deepen students understanding of, issues facing people across the world.

These can take the form of a talk for 30+ students or an interactive workshop with smaller groups. 

Interested in hosting a school talk or workshop?

*Please note: At this stage, all our Transition Year Work Experience places are booked up.

We host a limited number of Transition Year students for week-long general work experience placements on an individual basis during October, December, and January in our head office in Dublin. Placements are allocated on a first-come basis and designed to give students an insight into what it is like to work in one of Ireland’s biggest NGOs. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept students on a one day per week basis.

*Please note: At this stage, all our TY Academy places are booked up.

TY Academy is a week-long programme which runs three times over the year in November and February. It is ideal for Transition Year students who are keen to learn how they can become active global citizens and find out about what it is like to work in an NGO.

During each of these weeks, we host 16 Transition year students on a programme that includes seminars and simulations of work in various roles. Students must also agree to complete a follow-on project in their school (campaigning or fundraising) and have their application signed off by a teacher in order to be considered. Placements are allocated according to information provided on the application form.

Agents of change is our annual end-of-year student event which celebrates primary and secondary students taking local action on global issues! In the past, these have included awareness campaigns about conflicts in the world, practical action on food waste in schools and communities, fundraising actions and speaking out about injustices. This event gives students the opportunity to showcase their projects and meet like-minded peers from around the country.

Interested in taking part in Agents of Change? 

Each year, the United Nations marks key dates to bring attention to global issues which affect many people’s access to human rights. Join us and students from different schools for an interactive workshop as we mark World Food Day, World Toilet Day and International Women’s Day! Find out about complex global problems; hear about what Concern staff and communities around the world are doing to overcome these issues; and get some tips on how to take action as a school community.

These days are perfect for students (fourth–sixth year) and we can accommodate up to five students from each school.

Interested in taking part in a World Day Workshop?

We offer training sessions for schools and teachers focusing on simple ways to incorporate development education into the curriculum, as well as support for teachers using our resources.

Interested in receiving Teacher training?

Project Us is Concern’s movement for change in Ireland. It is a space (online and off) for communities to gather together to discuss the global and local issues that matter most to us. We'll be exploring how issues at the local level connect to the Sustainable Development Goals through evenings of debate, questions, and ideas at our Coffee conversation events. These engaging events might just be coming to a city near you in 2019 and everyone is welcome to attend!