Actions for Strand Two (Junior Cert CSPE): Revision Notes
Actions for Strand Two
What does strand two involve?
Strand Two of CSPE focuses on becoming an active global citizen. This means recognising how local and global issues are connected, and taking practical steps to make the world fairer and more sustainable.
The key is understanding that your actions, no matter how small, can make a real difference to global problems. Every local action has the potential to contribute to positive global change.
Ten practical actions you can take
1. Create a 'wellbeing' mural or noticeboard
This action helps you explore the connection between human wellbeing and environmental health. Your mural should demonstrate how people's health and happiness rely on having a healthy planet.
What to include:
- Visual connections between mental health, clean air, access to nature, and climate action
- Art, photographs, or slogans that show these relationships
Design Example: The Wellbeing Tree
Create a tree mural where each leaf shows a different way to protect wellbeing - like exercise, clean water, or renewable energy. This visual metaphor helps students see how environmental health directly supports human health.
2. Organise a class debate
Debates help you understand complex development issues from multiple perspectives whilst practising respectful discussion skills.
Suggested debate topics:
- "Climate change is the biggest challenge facing humanity"
- "Fast fashion does more harm than good"
Through debating, you learn to see global issues from different viewpoints and develop your ability to discuss important topics respectfully.
Real-World Example: Fridays for Future Student Debates
Across Europe, youth groups have organised debates about how governments should tackle climate change, connecting local concerns to global issues. These debates have influenced policy discussions and shown how young people can engage meaningfully with complex global problems.
3. Research Ireland's official development assistance (ODA)
ODA stands for Official Development Assistance - this is money that Ireland spends through Irish Aid to tackle poverty in other countries.
Research project ideas:
- Investigate Irish Aid projects in Mozambique (focusing on improving education access)
- Study healthcare and food security projects in Malawi
- Present your findings through posters, slides, or short reports
This action helps you understand how Ireland contributes to global development and connects to international efforts to reduce poverty. It shows how your country plays a role in addressing global inequalities.
4. Write to a politician or the media
Writing formal letters or emails helps you practise civic engagement whilst raising awareness about issues you care about.
Steps to follow:
- Choose a local or global issue (homelessness, climate change, refugee rights)
- Write a formal letter or email to a TD, MEP, councillor, or local newspaper
- Present your arguments clearly and respectfully
Student Impact Example: Cork Mental Health Campaign
Students in Cork wrote letters to their TDs about mental health services. These letters were later discussed in council meetings, showing how student voices can influence political discussions and lead to real policy consideration.
5. Measure your class's ecological footprint
An ecological footprint measures the environmental impact of your lifestyle choices. Use online footprint calculators to measure your class's impact on the environment.
Process:
- Calculate your initial footprint as a class
- Make changes (cycling to school, reducing plastic use)
- Measure again to see improvements
- Display progress on a wall chart
Global Initiative: Earth Overshoot Day Campaign
Students worldwide calculate their footprints and share results to highlight the need for lifestyle changes. This global campaign shows how local measurements contribute to worldwide awareness about environmental sustainability.
6. Investigate art, comedy, drama, poetry, or music for climate action
Research how artists use creativity to communicate climate messages and raise environmental awareness.
Examples and activities:
- Study how Greta Thunberg appeared in The 1975's music track to raise awareness
- Create and perform your own skit, rap, or poem in school to communicate sustainability ideas
- Explore different artistic approaches to environmental messaging
Creative expression can be one of the most powerful ways to communicate complex global issues. Art makes abstract problems more relatable and memorable for audiences.
7. Organise a pop-up fashion swap-shop
Collect unwanted clothes from classmates and organise an exchange event. This action addresses the problem of fast fashion whilst promoting sustainable consumption habits.
Benefits:
- Reduces clothing waste
- Highlights problems with fast fashion
- Promotes sustainable consumption
- Could include awareness talks about working conditions in garment factories
Community Action: Dublin Clothes Swaps
Community groups in Dublin host monthly clothes swaps to reduce waste and build awareness about ethical fashion choices. These events have prevented thousands of items from entering landfills while educating participants about sustainable fashion.
8. Invite a guest speaker
Bring in someone working on human rights, climate issues, or development to speak at your school.
Potential speakers:
- NGO workers (from Trócaire, Concern)
- Local councillors
- Environmental activists
- Development workers
Follow up with a Q&A session to connect your learning to real-world experience and understand how professionals work on global issues.
9. Visit an organisation or community focused on sustainability
Plan educational visits to see sustainability in action.
Visit options:
- Recycling centre
- Local organic farm
- Community garden
After your visit, report back to your class about what you learned and suggest actions your school could take based on what you discovered.
Direct observation of sustainability practises helps make abstract concepts concrete and shows how theory translates into real-world action.
10. Support the work of an NGO
NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) often rely on young people's support for fundraising and raising awareness.
Examples of Irish NGOs:
- Concern Worldwide (fighting poverty)
- GOAL (humanitarian aid)
- Trócaire (human rights and climate justice)
How to help:
- Organise fundraisers (bake sales, sponsored walks)
- Run awareness campaigns (posters, social media)
National Student Initiative: The Concern Fast
The Concern Fast involves thousands of Irish students giving up food, technology, or other items for 24 hours to raise money for Concern's international work. This initiative has raised millions of euros while educating students about global poverty and inequality.
Assessment tips
Key Assessment Strategies:
- When discussing actions, always explain why they matter for global citizenship
- Connect local actions to global impacts
- Use specific examples and case studies in your answers
- Show understanding of how individual actions can contribute to bigger changes
- Demonstrate knowledge of Irish involvement in global development
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Global citizenship means recognising that your local choices affect the wider world
- Actions include creative projects (murals, art, debates), research and communication (letters, surveys, ODA projects), and practical sustainability actions (swap shops, footprint measurements, NGO support)
- Real-world examples like Fridays for Future, Irish Aid projects, and Concern Fast show how young people can connect learning to action
- Global citizenship is about awareness, responsibility, and action - using small steps to contribute to big changes
- The key is understanding that every action, no matter how small, can make a meaningful difference to global issues