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Advocacy & Justice

Through the example of Blessed Edmund Rice and the mission of the Christian Brothers, advocacy and justice are at the heart of how we live out the Gospel message. Edmund Rice International is our Network’s very own Non-Governmental Organisation, based in Geneva, promoting advocacy, human rights and social justice across the Network. Through ERI we have the opportunity to speak out about the causes that matter to us. ERI is the vehicle which allows our students to become change-makers.

At Saint Ambrose College we support the work of ERI at the UN Human Rights Council by:

  • Establishing a student-led ERI Group to promote social justice action in school
  • Appointing ERI Youth Ambassadors who link directly with the team in Geneva
  • Attending ERI training, induction and conferences throughout the year
  • Allowing our student Ambassadors to visit Geneva, the ERI office and the United Nations
  • Appointing ERI Staff Representatives
  • Ensuring staff are trained in the principles of human rights and advocacy
  • Supporting ERI-approved campaigns
  • Displaying the ERI Schools’ Mission Statement prominently in school

 

Two members of the ERI group are annually elected as ‘Youth Ambassadors’ and travel to Geneva each January, along with all other Edmund Rice secondary schools’ Youth Ambassadors and Lead Teachers, to have a first-hand experience of the work that is undertaken by ERI at the UN. On returning to school the Youth Ambassadors disseminate their experiences to the rest of the ERI group and work with all students to encourage understanding of the issues of our time.

 Here are some of the achievements of the ERI Group to date:

  • Organise an annual “Sleep-Out” to raise awareness about the issues homeless people face
  • Collect clothing, food and essentials for local  asylum seekers
  • Arranged for an electoral husting to be held in school in the lead-up to the General Election
  • Coordinate food collections for asylum seekers and homeless charities across the city
  • Arrange for guest speakers to come in and deliver talks around social justice issues
  • Held a Q&A with Metro Mayor Andy Burnham on homelessness
  • Studied an ‘Advocacy and Human Rights’ course
  • Support SERV in teaching English to asylum seekers
  • Travel to Belfast to take part in annual domestic immersion

If you are interested in joining the ERI group at Saint Ambrose College please speak to the Chaplain, Mr Murray. The ERI group meet every week and sessions are led by the ERI Youth Ambassadors, who form part of the Student Leadership Team. 

 

Find out more about the work of ERI by visiting http://www.edmundriceinternational.org

 

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