MECPATHS & Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education, Maynooth University formally launched our Anti-Child Trafficking Awareness Partnership, to mark the inclusion of mandatory training for all Froebel BEd and PMEd students. Hosted by Froebel Department, Niamh Fortune, Head of Dept. began the day by welcoming a group of  stakeholders, including Froebel Staff and School Partners to an introductory training session with MECPATHS facilitated by Ann Mara, Education Manager and JP O Sullivan, Network and Communications Manager. Participatory in nature, the workshop provided opportunities for shared learning, with time for conversations to delve into the more complex aspects of this difficult topic and to locate the need and relevance of the education in the Irish Classroom. All attendees received a certificate on completion.

Professor Aidan Mulkeen, Vice President and Registrar who officiated on behalf of Prof Eeva Leinonen, President of Maynooth University, formally launched the partnership. In his address he noted that Froebel were celebrating 80 years of Primary Education in Ireland, 10 years on campus in Maynooth and this initiative was yet another first worth marking. Welcoming MECPATHS representatives, he stressed how cognisant and saddened he was that the need for such Anti-Child Trafficking Awareness Training was so necessary in Ireland today and commended Froebel Dept. for being the first ITE to work in collaboration with them on this pioneering initiative.

MECPATHS is particularly proud of the partnership which has been operated collaboratively since 2017 and look forward to its growth in 2024 through participatory learning, sharing and multi-disciplinary module contributions.