Development Education aims to support children to increase their awareness and understanding of the interdependent and unequal world in which we live through a process of interactive learning, debate, action and reflection. In our school, we challenge perceptions of the world and encourage our pupils to act for a more just and equal society at a local, national and international level. In recognition of our efforts in this area we were awarded best newcomer at the national competition Our World Awards in 2017 and the following year we were the overall winners. The Our World Awards seek to enable pupils to learn about the lives of children and their families in developing countries and how Ireland, through Irish Aid and 192 other countries in the United Nations are working together to create a safer and fairer world and a better future for all the world’s children. As global citizens the students in St. Mary’s play their part annually by taking part and engaging with these issues and we are proud to be recognised as  a Global Citizenship School by the INTO for our work in this area. We are one of a small number of primary schools who have received The Trócaire Romero Award (2018) which recognises the efforts made by our school to raise awareness of human rights violations and support people who are experiencing hardships.