Written by Beth Hickey
‘No Place like Home’ is an educational resource that has been developed by the Curriculum Development Unit at Mary Immaculate College in collaboration with Focus Ireland. It is aimed at exploring homelessness, developing empathy and challenging negative stereotypes some young people may have about people who are homeless among 5th and 6th class pupils in primary school.
The resource aims to gain students’ interest by using a variety of mediums including multimedia, art, drama, oral language and many other curricular areas. Children will also be given the chance to discuss homelessness and the issues people who are homeless may face.
Minister for Children, Brendan Smith, T.D., launched ‘No Place like Home’ on Tuesday 9th October at an event in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. This educational resource was produced by Focus Ireland and the Curriculum Development Unit of Mary Immaculate College. ‘No Place like Home’ is a resource for primary school students aimed at exploring homelessness, developing empathy and challenging the negative stereotypes some young people may have about people who are homeless.
Speaking at the launch of the resource, Minister for Children, Brendan Smith said: “I’m sure that the ‘No Place like Home’ educational resource will prove to be of great assistance in giving children a better understanding of the issue of homelessness and housing need in general. This better understanding will in turn help with the prevention of homelessness in years to come.”
Teacher Beth Hickey who researched and developed the content of this resource said: “This new resource aims to help children to develop a better understanding of issues including homelessness and housing needs in Ireland, in a way that will really connect with them so they take the issues on board. It is a child-centred, teacher-friendly resource that fully embraces the objectivities of the Primary School Curriculum.”
