Meitheal is a leadership programme which operates in 19 secondary schools in the Kildare and Leighlin diocese.
Meitheal is about a group of 10 senior cycle students who will work to make the school a more caring environment for the incoming first years. In the process taking actions on real felt needs in their school and learning about their own individual potentialities.
The Meitheal programme is designed to educate and empower young people in their schools. The students, leaders and others educate each other through leadership, taking action, liturgy, reflection and evaluation.
All students who participate in the programme have to attend a week’s training course. This course will give the students all the skills they will need to work as a Meitheal team in their school.
Meitheal asks people to step beyond their own needs and to act on the needs of others. On the training week students are given the skills to identify needs in their school and how to act upon those needs. Meitheal is also about looking out for the people in your group and maintaining the spirit of Meitheal. Meitheal also encourages students to use their learning in everyday life with their friends, family and parish.
Meitheal is very much about transformation, it’s about trying to make a difference, to make your school a better place for all.
This year's Meitheal team includes Joy Aladejana, Hannah Burns, Conor Carolan, Caoimhe Collins, Ellen Finegan, Hazel Gallagher, Emily Long, Sean McMahon, Alex Phillips and Sorcha Whelan.
So far this year the team has assisted at 1st year induction days and helped them settle into school life in the first few weeks, they have been a part of the 1st year sports day and upcoming disco. They have held a table quiz and plans for a christmas jumper and movie day are beginning.