Mount Merrion pupil awarded for writing moving Syrian letter

A PRIMARY school student from Mount Merrion was presented with a prize last week for an award-winning letter about the Syrian refugee crisis.

Ruben Grace, a 6th class student at St Conleth’s College in Ballsbridge, wrote a letter to Minister Kevin Humphreys about the crisis, in which he drew comparisons between the plight of those fleeing the war and those who fled Ireland during the famine.

“I know,” said Ruben in his letter, “that the people in Syria are not fleeing from a famine but I believe that they are in as desperate a situation in their own coffin ships in the Mediterranean. “Imagine it’s you and your family fleeing the Great Famine and you had to watch your family perish before your eyes.”

Ruben entered Goal’s ‘Write the Future’ competition, a development education initiative that invited students nationwide to write to a person of their choice about the ongoing refugee crisis.

More than 1,000 students aged between eight and 18 penned letters to sports stars, musicians, politicians and other influencers. Ruben won the ‘Primary Senior’ category for 5th and 6th class students.

Goal then arranged for Minister Humphreys to attend St Conleth’s before Christmas so Ruben could present his letter in person.

Ruben received his award from Alia Alsoud, a Syrian national who works for Goal and who is visiting Ireland for two weeks.

“The aim of ‘Write the Future’ is to help students learn about an important, current humanitarian situation, while also instilling the belief that their voice matters,” said Goal Development Education Coordinator, Louise Merrigan.

“We want to show how it can inspire change in both the local and global community.”