Swanmore C of E are very proud to have achieved their Bronze award for Christian Aid's Global Neighbours!

The Christian Aid’s Global Neighbours programme celebrates schools which are helping pupils learn about global poverty and the Christian responsibility to tackle it, as well as giving them the tools to play a confident part in creating a

fairer world. Global Neighbours isn’t just about raising money or picking up litter; it’s about gaining a deeper understanding of global issues and how we can all play a part in creating a more just world.

In our school we have:

 

• Think about the actions our pupils have taken and talk about examples which show how they have engaged with decision-makers and encouraged them to help make a fairer world.

• The link between thinking globally and acting locally.

• How the pupils have worked to make the world fairer (rather than simply raise money).

• How the pupils understanding of the world around them has changed and the impact it has had on them.

From running a community larder and linking sustainability with their small holding to toilet and tap twinning, pupils and staff at Swanmore primary school near Southampton have been working hard to take their place as global citizens.

 

Swanmore Church of England Primary School has achieved Bronze Award status in Christian Aid’s Global Neighbours scheme, in recognition of its initiatives to encourage children to think of others throughout the world.

The accreditation programme celebrates schools which are helping pupils learn about global poverty and the Christian responsibility to tackle it, as well as giving them the tools to play a confident part in creating a fairer world.

 

We are thrilled to be recognised for the work we have done as a whole school community to raise awareness of the extreme inequalities across our globe and perhaps more importantly, the steps we can take to address these. The pupils learn about global issues regularly and gain an understanding of injustice in our world. Our pupil led Eco Council has worked hard to enthuse and encourage us all to find ways of limiting our carbon footprint so as to minimise the impact of climate change on those who have done the least to cause it.

 

Pupils have been learning about examples of people who faced adversity and overcame this to be courageous advocates for change. These stories have challenged the whole school community to think about how each of us can make a difference in our local community and globally.

 

 

 

Our world is increasingly connected and our hope is for our children to grow as responsible global citizens who care about issues such as the environment and access to healthcare. The children have especially enjoyed working to support and toilet and tap twinning projects.

 

Alison Brown, Global Neighbours Schools Programme Officer at Christian Aid, said: “The Global Neighbours Scheme was launched in partnership with the Church of England’s Education Office with a vision of helping young people understand more about the inequalities in this world and helping them to become courageous advocates for change.

It’s wonderful to see how staff and pupils at Swanmore CE Primary have taken this to heart and are seeking to tackle injustice.  Any primary school in England can join the Global Neighbours scheme. There are three levels of accreditation: bronze, silver and gold. These are verified by independent assessors, who look for evidence across five areas: school leadership, teaching and learning; collective worship and spiritual development; pupil participation; and community engagement.”