Ukraine in the Irish Classroom

What Do We Know About Our Newly-Arrived Neighbours?

In August, 1979, the Irish government agreed to take in over two hundred Vietnamese refugees. 

Later refugee populations to arrive in Ireland under an Irish government scheme came from Bosnia, Syria and Afghanistan.

The latest refugees this time to arrive in Ireland are from Ukraine.

Africa in Ireland is making a special exception to look at a country (and a subject) outside the African continent; we are directing attention to Ukraine and its citizens during this terrible period in their country’s history.

Ukraine: the World’s Tragedy

Ukraine’s tragedy is the world’s tragedy; a country which has been home, short-term or long-term, to citizens from many other countries, continues to be attacked and destroyed in a war which no-one knows when it will all be over. 

The pain of Ukraine (the land, rivers and all that they hold); the suffering of Ukrainians themselves are shared by the whole world.

We acknowledge the work of Ukraine’s immediate neighbouring countries to the west and south-west: Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova, who are at the forefront (and frontline) of international assistance.

School-going Age Arrivals

In all cases, arriving refugees have also always included those of school-going age, who will be continuing their learning alongside Irish children.

So, what do their newly-encountered Irish classmates know about them and their country of origin?

Thanks to the NCCA, we have the answers: in the SESE Geography primary curriculum, the relevant strand unit is People and Other Lands.

A second strand unit which will introduce Ukraine to Irish children is Myth and Legends in the Story Strand of the SESE History primary curriculum; as the saying goes: “It starts with a story”.

One can never go wrong with a good story, and that’s why this is a good starting point; myths and stories from the place under discussion are also included in the People and Other Lands strand unit.

The Myths and Legends strand unit also offers integration links as illustrated below:

People and Other Lands: the strand unit areas

In a peaceful Ukraine which we are all praying for, what will your hosts feed you? 

It is the wish of the world’s majority to see Ukrainians baking their favourite Paska this coming Easter in a peaceful country without a hostile foreign presence.

Paska (Easter Bread)
Photo Credit: Korena Vezerian

In a peaceful Ukraine without foreign occupation:

What are their myths and stories? Art and Culture?

What are the similarities and differences between Ukraine and Ireland?

All these and many other questions have been posed and are expected to be answered in the People and Other Lands strand unit, where a helpful exemplar has also been included (please, see below):

As we continue to pray for peace to return soon to the beautiful country of Ukraine, we need to provide Irish children with the necessary information about that country, in order to broaden their perspectives and achieve understanding of their newly-arrived neighbours.

Thanks to the NCCA, resources on Ukraine, with a focus on the two strand units identified earlier: People and Other Lands in SESE Geography and Myths and Legends in SESE History can be produced as the first step in the broadening of perspectives and the achievement of understanding.