West Mayo school wins Erasmus+ Schools Week video competition

Being European means experiencing new cultures, learning new languages, and making new friends across the continent.

That’s according to students from Sancta Maria College in Louisburgh who were amongst the winners at the Erasmus+ Schools Week video competition this week.

Coordinated by Léargas, Erasmus+ Schools Week has been taking place since Monday.

The week celebrates all primary and post-primary schools involved in Erasmus+ by exploring how European programmes can benefit students, teachers and schools.

This year’s theme is the ‘Language of Diversity’.

The video competition was open to any school based in Ireland that is involved in Erasmus+.

Transition Year students from Sancta Maria College made a two-minute video about what the language of diversity meant to their school.

The school will receive a prize of a €750 voucher and a special plaque.

Congratulating the winners, Jane Carter, Inclusion and Diversity Officer with Léargas. said: “It’s fantastic to see the positive impact Erasmus+ has had for the staff and students in Sancta Maria College.

"Your video reinforced how diversity should be celebrated and how Erasmus+ unites students in Ireland and throughout Europe.”

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Léargas has continued to work with schools across Ireland on new and innovative ways to connect with communities and other cultures across Europe.

Executive director of Léargas, Lorraine Gilligan, said: “Our work at Léargas is about empowering people from every background, to find their place in the world and to create the positive change they want to see in society, whether that’s in their school here in Ireland, or in our shared European community.

"It’s clear that Irish schools have not lost any enthusiasm for European collaboration during the last two years.”