Actions for Strand One (Junior Cert CSPE): Revision Notes
Actions for Strand One
Why taking action matters
In CSPE, simply learning about rights and responsibilities isn't enough - you need to put your knowledge into practise through real action. Taking action helps you connect what you learn in the classroom to real-world situations and develops your skills as an active citizen.
Active citizenship means being someone who gets involved in making positive changes in their community and society. When you take action on rights and responsibilities issues, you're practising the skills you'll need throughout your life to stand up for what's right and help create a fairer world.
Taking action in CSPE isn't just about completing assignments - it's about developing the mindset and skills you'll need as an engaged citizen throughout your life. Every action you take, no matter how small, contributes to building a more just society.
Types of action you can take
There are many different ways to take action on rights and responsibilities. Here are nine practical approaches you can use:
1. Create a digital display
This involves using technology to educate others about human rights issues.
What you can do:
- Design slides, posters, videos, or infographics that show examples where human dignity is being respected
- Focus on positive stories like disability inclusion in sport, anti-racism campaigns, or women's rights movements
- Share your finished work on school noticeboards, websites, or social media pages
Why this works: Visual displays grab people's attention and help spread awareness about important issues in an engaging way. Digital formats also allow you to reach a wider audience and create more interactive content.
2. Investigate Article 12 of the UNCRC
Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states that young people have the right to have their voices heard in decisions that affect them.
Your investigation could include:
- Examining how your school involves students in decision-making
- Checking if the student council has real influence over school policies
- Finding out if students are consulted about school rules or wellbeing initiatives
- Presenting your findings to the principal, teachers, or student council
Investigation Example: Student Voice in School Policies
Step 1: Interview student council members about their role in recent school decisions
Step 2: Survey classmates about whether they feel heard by school management
Step 3: Research specific examples of student input in school rule changes
Step 4: Present findings with recommendations for improving student participation
This investigation helps you understand whether your rights are being respected and gives you evidence to push for improvements. Remember, Article 12 is a legal right - schools should be involving students in decisions that affect them.
3. Engage with a human rights issue
Choose an issue that genuinely matters to you, such as homelessness, climate action, or racism.
How to get involved:
- Connect with campaigns or organisations working on your chosen issue
- Consider groups like Focus Ireland (housing rights), Amnesty International (freedom and equality), or UNICEF (children's rights)
- Take concrete action by writing letters, attending workshops, or joining youth campaigns
Why choose an issue that matters to you: When you care about something personally, you're more likely to stay committed and make a real difference. Your passion will also come through more authentically when you're advocating for change.
4. Lobby a government department
Lobbying means trying to influence government decisions by presenting your views and evidence.
Steps to follow:
- Identify which government department deals with your issue (e.g., Department of Housing, Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth)
- Write a respectful letter or email outlining your concerns and suggesting possible solutions
- Use facts and evidence to support your arguments
Lobbying Example: Youth Mental Health Services
Students could write to TDs (Teachtaí Dála - members of parliament) about improving youth mental health services by:
- Researching current waiting times for mental health support
- Gathering testimonials from peers about their experiences
- Proposing specific solutions like school-based counselling programmes
5. Design and share a survey
Surveys help you gather evidence about people's opinions and experiences.
Your survey process:
- Create questions about human rights topics (e.g., "Do you think young people's voices are listened to in Ireland?")
- Share with peers, family members, or your wider community
- Present results using charts and graphs to make them easy to understand
- Feed back your results to participants and, if possible, to local councillors, school principals, or youth groups
Value of surveys: They provide real data that can support campaigns for change and show the scale of issues. Well-designed surveys can reveal problems that weren't previously recognised and help build support for solutions.
6. Publish a piece of media
Use your voice to raise awareness about minority rights issues in Ireland.
What you could create:
- Articles, blog posts, vlogs, or podcasts
- Focus on topics like treatment of asylum seekers in Direct Provision, Traveller rights, or LGBTQ+ equality
- Reference important human rights instruments like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) or Irish equality legislation
- Share through school newsletters, community radio, or youth websites
When creating media content, always fact-check your information and present balanced viewpoints. Your credibility as an advocate depends on the accuracy and fairness of your content.
7. Celebrate International Human Rights Day (10th December)
International Human Rights Day marks the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights being adopted in 1948.
School event ideas:
- Organise assembly presentations about the UDHR, UNCRC, or European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
- Invite guest speakers from rights organisations
- Run poster or art competitions focused on human rights themes
Why celebrate: It raises awareness about human rights and shows your school's commitment to these values. Annual celebrations also help maintain ongoing focus on rights issues throughout the school year.
8. Research a global challenge and human rights
Examine how global issues affect people's rights, particularly young people's rights.
Possible challenges to research:
- Climate change and its impact on access to clean water and food
- COVID-19 and how it affected education and mental health
- Poverty and its connection to other rights violations
Research Example: Climate Change and Children's Rights
Research how climate change reduces access to clean water and food in countries like Malawi, affecting children's rights to health and education:
- Document specific impacts on school attendance during droughts
- Interview development workers or watch documentaries about affected communities
- Connect findings to specific articles of the UNCRC
- Present findings in a project report or short video
9. Invite a guest speaker
Bring real-world expertise into your classroom by organising talks with people working on rights issues.
Possible speakers:
- NGO representatives (e.g., from Concern or Trócaire)
- Politicians or local councillors
- Activists (e.g., youth climate strikers, disability rights campaigners)
Make it interactive: Follow up with a Q&A session where students can engage directly with the speaker. Prepare thoughtful questions in advance and encourage classmates to share their own perspectives and experiences.
Key principles for taking action
When taking any of these actions, remember these important points:
- Link learning to real action - Don't just study rights and responsibilities, put them into practise
- Focus on human dignity - All actions should aim to protect and promote human dignity and human rights
- Make it personal - Students learn most effectively when they connect issues to their own lives, communities, and global challenges
- Use different approaches - Actions can be creative (displays, media, events), investigative (surveys, research, guest speakers), or campaign-focused (lobbying, engaging with NGOs)
Key Points to Remember:
- Taking action transforms you from a passive learner into an active citizen who can make real change happen
- Choose issues that genuinely matter to you - your passion will drive your success
- Article 12 of the UNCRC gives you the right to have your voice heard in decisions that affect you
- Actions can range from creative projects to direct engagement with government departments and campaign organisations
- The goal is always to protect and promote human dignity and human rights for everyone