Sive Bresnihan is part of Comhlámh's training and education team and with a background in drama & theatre studies, international development and adult education. Her interest in and commitment to decolonial approaches for Global Citizenship Education was seeded back in 2018 when she participated in Bridge 47's year-long "Transformative Learning Journey". Sive has a growing interest in body-based practices ("somatics") and how this field can be mobilized in support of transformative learning and, ultimately, more justice.
Decolonising Development Education
Dates: Tuesday 31 May and Tuesday 30 August, 10.30am – 4pm (Tea and Coffee from 10am)
Location: Carmelite Community Centre, 56 Aungier St, Dublin 2
This 2 part workshop is targeted at Development Education/Global Citizenship Education practitioners. So much information about the world is filtered through a Euro-centric lens, whether it be media, history books and educational curricula. This includes knowledge and understanding about issues relating to development, which all too often occludes the role (and implications) of Europeans as colonisers, slave traders, settlers, missionaries.
What does this mean for our Development Education content and practice to date? This 2 part training workshop is an invitation to explore this question and more. How does the colonial legacy play out in Development Education content and practice? Where are its visible (and not so visible) imprints? What do decolonial approaches look like/feel like? How might they strengthen our efforts towards a truly transformative education?
The training is hosted by IDEA, in collaboration with Comhlámh and WorldWise Global Schools, and will be facilitated by Sive Bresnihan (Comhlámh) and Lizzy Noone (WorldWise Global Schools). It will take place over two days in-person – Tuesday 31 May and Tuesday 30 August. There will be an invitation to carry out a task in between the sessions and engage in some reflection with another training participant.
Cost:
Fee for members of IDEA, Comhlamh or WorldWise Global Schools* is €60.00
Fee for non-members of IDEA, Comhlamh or WorldWise Global Schools is €100.00
Fee for unwaged (refugees, asylum seekers, students, others) is €5.00 - this can be paid in person
*member rate applies to schools and NGOs who work with WorldWise Global Schools
Register below or contact us if you have any queries.
Please note:
This workshop is now full. If you would like to be added to the waiting list, please register below. You will be contacted if a place becomes available for you.
Biographies
Lizzy Noone has been working with schools on Global Citizenship Education and campaigning for 24 years. She has worked for WorldWise Global Schools for 9 years working with schools to have a whole school approach to global justice and equality.
She worked with Concern for 15 years previous to this, working on three EU funded projects including stop Child Labour. She has worked with Concern Debates and the Concern Campaign Academy that engaged students in GCE and campaigns. She represented Ireland on the European Development Education Forum for four years, and was an active member of the steering group of the Global Campaign for Education and Stop Climate Chaos for many years. She did the Transformative Learning Journey 2 with Bridge 47. She is a strong believer in degrowth and decolonisation.
The Irish Development Education Association (IDEA), in partnership with Concern Worldwide, is undertaking research on Global North - South partnerships in Global Citizenship Education/ Development Education, with a focus on collaborations between organisations on the island of Ireland and organisations and communities in the Global South. The research aims to identify good practices and develop practical guidance that can support organisations in strengthening equitable partnerships as central to quality GCE/DE. It is important to stress this research focuses on partnerships or collaborations with educational purposes in the context of facilitating GCE/DE . This means that organisations, educators and learners work together on activities that enable people to understand the root causes of injustice and inequality at local and global levels, and prepare them to engage and build a more just and sustainable future. These activities are guided by principles such as recognition of the knowledge of all partners, mutual learning, solidarity, and an understanding of how local and global issues, people, and systems are interconnected. We would greatly value your contribution to this research. Your contributions will help inform IDEA´s ongoing work to support the sector and IDEA members, while also informing Concern Worldwide´s Global Citizenship programme. Findings will be shared (in an aggregate manner or with prior permission) in a workshop in Dublin/Hybrid on 25 November 2026. You can contribute by: Completing a short survey here. You can remain anonymous - unless you decide to complete optional questions with details of your practices; Agreeing to an online interview; approx 30-45 minutes; Sharing information about your practice via email; Taking part in a session to discuss the findings and provide feedback to a practical guide on the topic.
IDEA is seeking a consultant to analyse data captured during the pilot of the Theory of Impact for the GCE tool. The purpose of this assignment is both to understand what the pilot data can tell us about the contribution and reach of GCE activity, and to identify what IDEA can learn from the pilot data to strengthen the quality, consistency and usefulness of future data collection. Timeframe Deadline to apply: Tuesday, 06 October, 1.00pm Initial briefing with IDEA staff: Friday, 09 October First draft of report due: Wednesday, 21 October, 1.00pm Feedback from IDEA: Thursday, 29 October Final report due: Monday, 02 November Presentation of findings (provisional dates): Members involved in the pilot and impact measurement process: Friday, 06 November Public event for IDEA members and interested stakeholders: Thursday, 19 November How to Apply Please submit: A concise CV (maximum 2-3 pages) A proposal outlining: Relevant experience Referees for similar work A brief description of your proposed methodology The proposed number of days required Details of staff involved (where relevant) Your fee Please send your completed application to lizzy@ideaonline.ie and elaine@ideaonline.ie by Tuesday, 06 October, 1.00pm. The full terms of reference is here
The joint letter to Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee comes ahead of the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council
