Engaged learning opportunities at second level inspire young people to experience and learn with their communities in an entirely new way.  SLUSIK creates opportunities with community partners for our young people to discover how they can help address real problems, and in doing so find their own unique PLACE in the world.

SLUSIK

The PLACE model has five stages that integrate formal and informal learning within a ‘real-world’ context.

  • PREPARE:  develop framework combining community needs and activities within the curriculum
  • LINK: making connections between students and community partners, UL role models, project teams, and the challenges to be addressed together.
  • ACTION: Collaborating on practical response(s) to the problem and then implementing their ideas - making things happen!
  • CELEBRATE: Presentation of their work at a public event acknowledging the contributions and achievements of everyone involved.
  • EFFECT: New relationships are established. Through active participation, ideas of the young person are realised in real and meaningful ways in their community.

This is an Erasmus+ funded project that involves seven European partners and is currently undergoing field trials in five European locations. Trial Schools in Limerick are Coláiste Ioseaf  & CBS Sexton Street

UL and its partners aim to reduce risk of social exclusion faced by young people in Europe and improve prospects for their participation in all aspects of society.

Community projects

The outcomes can be exciting and surprising, bringing together different generations with different perspectives means that things don’t always go to plan.  Amazing things can be achieved with young people if given the chance to try, the PLACE model enables learning experiences for everyone to participate in!

Sample projects Autumn 2021

  • Illustrated children’s stories on importance of bees
  • Period poverty awareness in schools
  • Vegetable BBQ – promoting growing and eating of veggies
  • Talking more about mental health for men
  • Promotion of recycling initiatives in schools and the community
  • Raising young people’s awareness of drug abuse and public violence in the community
  • Multicultural healthy cookbook