Edmund Rice Awards 2019

Twelve P7 boys and girls from St Clare’s Abbey travelled to Dromantine to celebrate their participation in the Edmund Rice Awards Project. This project was established in 1994 to encourage young people to respond to the needs of their local community in the spirit of Edmund Rice.

The project encourages students to serve their local community and exposes them to the realities of social injustice and marginalization. It provides a rare opportunity for young people to make a significant difference to the lives of local community members. The project involves reflection sessions to be conducted in school and provides the opportunity for students to assess their own voluntary work.

This year we travelled to celebrate the tenth Anniversary of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust.   We were joined by Christian Brothers Primary School, Armagh; Christian Brothers Grammar School, Omagh; Abbey Christian Brothers Grammar School, Newry; St Mary’s Christian Brothers Grammar School, Belfast; Edmund Rice College, Glengormly; Christian Brothers School Glen Road, Belfast; St Patrick’s Primary School, Belfast and John Paul 11 Primary School, Belfast.

  The Edmund Rice family of schools come together annually to celebrate their achievements in fulfilling the vision of Blessed Edmund Rice.  The Edmund Rice Schools Trust Charter (ERST Charter) defines these schools in the following way;

“The hallmarks of an Edmund Rice school are care, especially for those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged in any way, and action for social and ecological justice.”

To this aim, the awards ceremony highlights and celebrates the many projects undertaken in the schools each year to help others. 

The day began with contributions from Professor Peter Finn and Brother Edmund Garvey. Following this, each school including St. Clare’s Abbey delivered presentations on how Edmund Rice’s vision influenced them in the many projects and initiatives they undertook over the year to assist those in need.

St. Clare’s Abbey cited the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child listing the forty two rights made to children and young people so that all are treated fairly and equally. Their presentation focused on how children in St. Clare’s Abbey exercise their Rights which they are born with and don’t have to be earned. They highlighted the support given to fellow pupils, how pupils care for the homeless at Christmas, how the ECO Council are changing attitudes and actively promote respect and care for the environment to raising money for many worthwhile charities who stand in solidarity with those who are powerless and marginalised.