Last month, our founder Lorna Byrne was delighted to visit our charity partner Narrative 4 in Limerick for the launch of the story exchange project that started this term.
Thanks to you hundreds of students in two Limerick schools will now have a specially N4 trained artist within their school for the entire year to deliver the Narrative 4 Story Exchanges for them. This project is so important because as well as helping these young people develop empathy, it also teaches them social and emotional skills and improves their wellbeing.
“It definitely changed me. I definitely realise that other people are going through some things that I wouldn’t have thought of before”
Alex, Former Narrative 4 Story Exchange participant
It gives them a powerful sense of belonging and connection and helps them have healthier relationships among themselves. In a sense, it is like an antidote to the disconnection many young people feel today.
Lorna Byrne said, “When a child shares its story in this way it stirs up their love and compassion. It helps these students to reach out and help each other, to really understand what their classmates are going through. It teaches them to communicate and to maybe ask themselves, Why has my classmate been so angry or full of emotion, or why are they not talking, what is wrong? It helps them to understand and connect with each other. Remember learning about empathy will help a young person right through their life, so they can reach out and look for help themselves when they need it or to be more aware and help others too. That is why I am so delighted we can support this amazing project and all of these young people in such a significant way.”
James Lawlor, Regional Director of Narrative 4 Ireland, said, “I am delighted that hundreds of additional young people from Limerick will get the chance to experience the Story Exchange thanks to the Lorna Byrne’s Children’s Foundation”.
The schools that will be involved in the project are Thomond Community College and Coláiste Chiaráin Croom. Writer Helena Close is working with Thomond Community College for the year, while Artist Richard Hannafin is working with Coláiste Chiaráin Croom. This project will allow a large amount of the student body within these two schools to undergo a story exchange and connect with other students and groups within the school community. Thank you for supporting this amazing project and we look forward to sharing more about this project as the year progresses.