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The Link Schools Programme offers your school the chance to form a partnership with a rural school in South Africa or Uganda. Forming a partnership with an African school can be an excellent way of introducing a global dimension to teaching and learning in your school. Communicating, and exchanging ideas and information with pupils and teachers can be an exciting and real way of learning about school and community life in rural sub-Saharan Africa.
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By partnering with a school in Africa you will be working with Link Community Development towards improving learning in rural schools in Africa. You will also be providing valuable opportunities for children in schools in both Africa and Ireland to learn directly from each other, deepening their understanding of global issues and strengthening the impact of global citizenship.
African partner schools are selected from those schools involved in Link Community Development’s school improvement projects ensuring that African school improvement drives the Link Schools Programme. In addition to forming a partnership with an Irish school, the African schools have access to a programme of training and support from Link Community Development.
What are the benefits to your school?
There are many benefits for your pupils and whole school from linking with a school in Africa.
- Broaden pupils awareness of global issues and different environments in a meaningful way
- Form friendships between pupils and teachers in your school and your partner school
- Develop an awareness and understanding of the meaning of global citizenship
- Challenge stereotypical beliefs and prejudices
- Improve children’s communication skills
- Add a global dimension to the curriculum
- Exchange resources to enhance all curriculum areas
- Develop joint curricular projects with an African school on topics such as Fairtrade, water usage, health and the rights of the child
- Add a global dimension to school initiatives and awards
"A wonderful way of bringing Africa to life for our children here, and for them to realise all they have in common as well as learn about the difference in culture and daily life...the link will improve literacy through letter writing and increase the children's awareness of being global citizens in an interdependent world. We also hope it will be a source of fun and excitement in both schools!"
Mura Tierney, Scoil Chaitriona Junior School.
When you link with LCD, we will provide…
- A Link Schools Pack to guide the school in your link
- An Annual School Visit, introducing your pupils to Africa and their Link School
- A Starter Pack for teachers which includes worksheets to encourage pupils to start writing to their Link School in Africa
- A Termly Activity Pack for teachers each school term to guide correspondence with your Link School
- A courier service for parcels up to 1.5kg every school term so that you can exchange letters, drawings, stories, art and crafts with your Link School
- The opportunity for teachers to attend our annual conference
All you have to do is…
- Introduce your school to your partner school by means of a school profile
- Organise a parcel 2-3 times each year to be posted to our Irish office, using the Termly Activity Pack we have provided
- Distribute the parcel you will receive from your Link School to your pupils
- Have fun linking!
Why Link through LCD?
- LCD has a high level of expertise in school linking and supporting school partnerships since 1998
- LCD has support staff in Africa and Ireland, ensuring safe delivery of your correspondence
- LCD supports you in fundraising in a sustainable way for schools in Africa
“I am particularly proud of LCD’s Link Schools Programme. It is critical that schools provide an education which requires us to act as global citizens. We have much to learn from each other”
The Most Reverend Desmond Tutu, LCD Patron
How to apply
For more information on the Link Schools Programme and to get an application pack, you can text ‘LSP’ with your name, email and postal address to IE +353 879697623 Call , email info@lcd.ie or phone IE +353 12841414 Call . Schools can join any time of year. The fee for linking your school is €300 per year, payable in installments.
The programme is part funded by Irish Aid.
