Irish language organ donation education resources launched - Acmhainní oideachais deonú orgán i nGaeilge seolta

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is delighted to launch Irish language Primary school organ donation education resources, aimed at introducing organ donation education at an early age in the school setting.  

With the educational curriculum in mind, the resources will provide Key Stage1 and 2 pupils with the information they need to find out more about the topic and to discuss it with family and friends.

The resources were launched today [15 March 2024] to mark the end of Seachtain na Gaeilge le Energia 2024, an international Irish language festival and one of the biggest celebrations of the native language and culture, which takes place each year in Ireland and many other countries.

Young organ donation campaigner Dáithí Mac Gabhann was delighted to help the launch the resources at his school Bunscoil an tSléibhe Dhuibh in West Belfast.

As part of an innovative project initiated by the Orgamites and initially launched by the PHA in October as part of the new ‘organ donation education month’ or ‘Orgtober’, the Key Stage 1 and 2 resources introduce organ donation to children in an age-appropriate way.  Northern Ireland was the first region in the UK to introduce 'Orgtober' to the school calendar for the month of October, leading the way in organ donation education and early awareness.  

A working group of teachers, chaired by the PHA, collaborated on the Orgamites resources to tailor them for pupils across Northern Ireland. The group includes teachers and others with direct personal or family experience of organ donation and transplantation.

Dáithí’s dad Máirtín and working group member welcomed the resources saying: "We are very grateful that these organ donation educational resources have been made available in the Irish language during Seachtain na Gaeilge, especially as Dáithí's school is helping to launch them today.

"After almost six years of waiting for the gift a heart transplant, this initiative holds a special place in our hearts, as we truly believe in the power of education. I was proud to play a small part with the hardworking team of educators and advocates of organ donation, who have worked nonstop on this project.

"Although Dáithí's Law has brought about positive change to organ donation here, we are even more grateful and hopeful to see our children learn about this important subject in a school setting with carefully planned and appropriate resources. In terms of educating the next generation about the importance of organ donation, this is a huge step forward. These resources will provide children with the chance to learn about organ donation in a safe and enjoyable setting, and we are incredibly grateful to all those who have contributed to our organ donation community."

Aidan Dawson, Chief Executive of the Public Health Agency commented:

“The primary school organ donation education resources are an exciting development for the topic of organ donation and transplantation, which saves many lives each year.  We hope to see good uptake and participation with teachers and pupils, and that their adoption within schools will be a transformative endeavour that will inspire young minds, encourage family discussions, and sow the seeds of compassion and generosity that will benefit society for generations to come.”

The aim of the new primary school resources is to enhance children's understanding of their incredible organs, stimulate family dialogue about organ donation and transplantation, and encourage the young people to consider how they feel about organ donation and what their decision might be.

Through a range of free, fun, and interactive educational toolkits, and other resources that pupils can take home, children will learn all about their organs, as well as why and how to take better care of their bodies, and why and how kindness really counts. Importantly, the Orgamites characters mean that pupils, and teachers, will have lots of fun while learning.

The Key Stage 1 and 2 resources can be downloaded at: www.organdonationni.info/school-resources and a pack can be requested by emailing organdonationni@hscni.net

Acmhainní oideachais deonú orgán i nGaeilge seolta

Tá áthas ar an Ghníomhaireacht Sláinte Poiblí (GSP) acmhainní oideachais deonú orgán do bhunscoileanna Gaeilge a sheoladh, atá dírithe ar oideachas an deonaithe orgán a thabhairt isteach ag aois óg i suíomh na scoile.  Agus an curaclam oideachais san áireamh, cuirfidh na hacmhainní seo an t-eolas ar fáil do dhaltaí Eochairchéim 1 agus 2 chun tuilleadh a fhoghlaim faoi dheonú orgán agus chun é a phlé le baill teaghlaigh agus le cairde.

Seoladh na hacmhainní inniu (15 Márta 2024) chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar dheireadh Sheachtain na Gaeilge le Energia 2024.  Bhí an-áthas ar an fheachtasóir óg Dáithí Mac Gabhann cuidiú leis na hacmhainní a sheoladh ina scoil féin - Bunscoil an tSléibhe Dhuibh in Iarthar Bhéal Feirste.

Tá an tionscadal nuálach seo tosaithe ag na hOrgamites agus sheol an GSP i mí Dheireadh Fómhair é mar chuid den 'mhí oideachais deonú orgán' nó 'Deonú Fómhair'. Tugann na hacmhainní Eochairchéim 1 agus 2 seo an t-ábhar deonú orgán isteach ar bhealach atá fóirsteanach d'aois na ndaltaí.  Is é Tuaisceart Éireann an chéad réigiún sa Ríocht Aontaithe a thug 'Deonú Fómhair' isteach i bhféilire na scoile do mhí Dheireadh Fómhair.

Chomhoibrigh grúpa oibre múinteoirí, faoi chathaoirleacht na Gníomhaireachta Sláinte Poiblí, ar acmhainní na Orgamites chun iad a chur ar fáil do dhaltaí ar fud Tuaiscirt.

Chuir athair Dháithí, Máirtín agus ball den ghrúpa oibre, fáilte roimh na hacmhainní ag rá: "Tá muid an-bhuíoch go bhfuil na hacmhainní oideachais deonú orgán seo curtha ar fáil i nGaeilge le linn Sheachtain na Gaeilge, go háirithe agus scoil Dháithí ag cuidiú leis an tseoladh inniu.

I ndiaidh beagnach 6 bliana ag fanacht le bronntanas na beatha trí thrasphlandú croí, tá áit speisialta inár gcroí don tionscnamh seo, mar creideann muid go smior i gcumhacht an oideachais. Bhí mé bródúil as páirt bheag a bheith agam san fhoireann d'oideachasóirí agus d’abhcóidithe deonú orgán, a d'oibrigh go dlúth ar an tionscadal seo.

Cé go bhfuil athrú dearfach tagtha ar dheonú orgán anseo de bharr Dhlí Dháithí, tá muid thar a bheith buíoch agus dóchasach go bhfoghlaimeoidh ár bpáistí faoin ábhar thábhachtach seo i suíomh scoile le hacmhainní atá fóirsteanach. Is céim mhór chun cinn é seo maidir le hoideachas a chur ar an chéad ghlúin eile faoin tábhacht a bhaineann le deonú orgán,.

Tabharfaidh na hacmhainní seo deis do pháistí foghlaim faoi dheonú orgán i suíomh sábháilte agus taitneamhach, agus tá muid an-bhuíoch dóibh siúd go léir a chuir lenár bpobal deonú orgán anseo ó thuaidh."

Dúirt Aidan Dawson, Príomhfheidhmeannach na Gníomhaireachta Sláinte

Poiblí:

"Is forbairt spreagúil iad na hacmhainní oideachais seo; a bhaineann le deonú orgán agus trasphlandú, rud a shábhálann go leor daoine gach bliain.  Tá súil againn go mbeadh rannpháirtíocht mhaith le feiceáil le múinteoirí agus daltaí, agus go spreagfaidh an iarracht chlaochlaitheach seo intinní óga le plé leis an teaghlach, mar aon le síolta na comhbhá agus na flaithiúlachta a phlandáil sa tsochaí do na glúnta atá le teacht."

Is é aidhm na n-acmhainní bunscoile nua tuiscint na bpáistí a fheabhsú ar a n-orgáin dochreidte, plé teaghlaigh a spreagadh maidir le deonú orgán agus trasphlandú, agus na daoine óga a spreagadh chun machnamh a dhéanamh ar an dóigh a mothaíonn siad faoi dheonú orgán agus cén cinneadh a thiocfadh leo a dhéanamh.

Trí réimse sraitheanna uirlisí oideachais saor in aisce, spraíúla agus idirghníomhacha, foghlaimeoidh na páistí faoina gcuid orgán féin, chomh maith leis an dóigh le haire níos fearr a thabhairt dá gcoirp. Níos tábhachtaí arís, ciallaíonn na carachtair Orgamites go mbeidh go leor spraoi ag daltaí, agus ag múinteoirí, agus iad ag foghlaim!

Is féidir acmhainní Eochairchéim 1 agus 2 a íoslódáil ag:

www.organdonationni.info/school-resources agus is féidir pacáiste a iarraidh trí ríomhphost a sheoladh chuig organdonationni@hscni.net.