STUDENTS at Castletroy College last week showed how Christmas shopping can be done with a thought for where the goods we buy come from and how the producers are affected by our spend.
Class Captain Hazel Dignam, with the school’s TY global citizenship education class, organised an ethical Christmas Market. The objective is to foster and promote an attitude of ethical consumerism in the school and local community.
Mayor Francis Foley dropped in to sample some of the sustainable food and gifts on offer.
He was joined by Aoife Rankin, Education Officer at Worldwide Global Schools, Dolores O’Meara from Fairtrade Limerick and pupils of Monaleen National School, who were thrilled to get a visit from Santa and his helper elf.
Global Citizenship aims to educate pupils about world issues and make them think critically about the root causes of justice issues and how they are interlinked with our daily lives.
The students and their teacher began working on the market in September and the school community was asked to donate unwanted items such as perfume sets. DVD’s, books, games and toys. The Monaleen pupils also pitched in and brought items for the market.
For every donation, shoppers received a token to collect an item for free and by the end of the day, every stall was sold out.
All funds raised were donated to the Children’s Ark at University Hospital Limerick and the St Vincent de Paul Christmas appeal.
