Edmund Rice International Global Schools’ Meet

On Friday, 10th October, over 200 students and educators from across the Edmund Rice Network came together online for the first Edmund Rice International (ERI) Youth Ambassadors’ Global Meet of the academic year. The strong turnout and enthusiastic engagement clearly reflected the energy and commitment of young people involved in advocacy and social justice throughout our global community.

The session began with an introduction to the work of Edmund Rice International, providing new participants with an overview of how ERI promotes human rights and justice at local and global levels. The chat box quickly filled with greetings from across the world, as representatives from Africa, India, the UK, Ireland, and North and South America joined the conversation.

Advocacy coordinators from the UK and India gave inspiring presentations on how the Youth Ambassadors programme operates in their regions. They spoke about the formation and induction of justice groups, the learning and leadership opportunities available, and how advocacy work shapes the ethos and culture of Edmund Rice schools.

The central theme for the gathering was Inclusive Education, inspired by the Indian network’s advocacy focus this year. Guided by Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education for All, participants explored how schools and communities can ensure that every child is welcomed, supported, and empowered to thrive.

Grace David, Justice and Advocacy Coordinator for the Edmund Rice schools in India, delivered a powerful reflection on what true inclusion means. She challenged participants to think beyond access, describing inclusion as the active participation and belonging of every child, regardless of ability or additional needs. “Our responsibility as educators,” she reminded us, “is to remove barriers and ensure every child is valued.”

One of the most moving moments of the session came from Swarnalakshmi Ravi a visually impaired student from India, who shared her personal experiences of navigating education in a world designed largely for able-bodied people. She highlighted that, according to the World Health Organization, 16% of the global population lives with a moderate or severe disability, while around 10% of children have additional needs—figures that underscore the urgency of inclusive practices in education.

Swarna encouraged schools to reimagine their facilities, equipment, and curriculum to create environments where everyone belongs. She reminded us that inclusivity should not be seen as a favour but as a right—echoing Gandhi’s words: “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.”

The meeting also celebrated inspiring examples of inclusion across the network. Two students from Tralee CBS Primary School in Ireland spoke about their school’s journey as a School of Sanctuary, where cultural diversity is celebrated and every nationality is welcomed. In the United States, Sean D’Alfonso, advocacy lead, shared how schools are embedding inclusion at the heart of their educational experience.

Another highlight came from Chodipalli Chinna, a tribal student from AP Hilltop School in India, whose moving testimony described how education has given him dignity, empowerment, and a sense of belonging as part of a community that sees and values him.

As the world continues to face widening inequalities—between rich and poor, powerful and voiceless, global north and global south—our network remains committed to bridging those divides. Through the collaborative spirit of initiatives like the Youth Ambassadors’ Global Meets, our students are learning to listen, to lead, and to advocate for a more just and compassionate world.

With the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals reaching their 2030 milestone, it is heartening to see groups like PRATYeK in India already engaging young people in imagining what comes next. Indeed, it is these young people who will become the voices and decision-makers shaping the post-2030 agenda.

Each school that participated in the meeting is now invited to take part in a campaign or project exploring Inclusive Education in their own context, in collaboration with Grace David and the Indian schools’ network. Together, they will continue building a global movement of inclusion—where every learner is seen, supported, and celebrated.