Welcome to the journey of becoming a School of Sanctuary. You will be joinging a family of hundreds of schools in Ireland the the UK, all committed to promoting a culture of welcome and inclusion for people seeking international protection.

What is a School of Sanctuary like?

A School of Sanctuary is a school that works on providing a sense of safety for those whose lives may be in danger in their own country, who have troubles at home or are just looking for a space where they can feel safe. The whole school is committed to making it a safe and welcoming place for anyone seeking sanctuary. The schools consciously helps students, staff and the wider community to understand what it means to be seeking sanctuary. Schools of Sanctuary welcome everyone as equal, valued members of the school and the community. It is a school that is proud to be a place of safety and inclusion for all. A School of Sanctuary develops intercultural awareness through the gradual acquisition of intercultural skills and celebrates all cultures within its community.

How do we become a School of Sanctuary?

To become a recognised School of Sanctuary, you will need to adopt the three principles - Learn - Action - Share

  • Learn: What it means to be seeking sanctuary. This may include hearing refugees describe their experiences first hand
  • Action: Decide on actions that are needed in the school to help deliver a culture of welcome and inclusion
  • Share: Share your findings with the local community and other schools

Get Started

  • Contact us at uni.sanctuary@nuigalway.ie, or get in touch with our Schools of Sanctuary coordinator, Aidan Harte - aidan.harte@nuigalway.ie/086 0137470.
  • Download the Schools of Sanctuary Charter and Pledge form. This is your starting point and a good way to get the whole community involved. 
  • Follow the actions of the Schools of Sanctuary Resource Pack. Following the three guidelines, Learn, Action, Share, begin to prepare your portfolio
  • When you're ready, we can arrange for a monitoring team to visit your school to help decide if you're ready for a School of Sanctuary Award