The Edmund Rice Schools Trust is the trustee body responsible for eight schools in N. Ireland. As trustees we act in solidarity with our network of schools in providing an education based on Faith, Spirituality and Gospel Based Values. At the core of these values lies action in advocacy for social justice Issues. As an ERST community we are guided by The Charter calling us to respond to human suffering with compassion, courage, and practical action.

Across the Edmund Rice Schools Trust, we believe that every child — no matter where they are born — deserves safety, dignity, and the chance to grow. When we learned of the urgent need for paediatric care in Gaza, our school communities felt called to respond with compassion, solidarity, and hope.

Throughout our post‑primary schools, students and staff are working together to raise funds through a range of events organised by each school. All proceeds will be directed to The Gaza Paediatric Care Initiative, (GPCI) who are a non profit organisation founded in 2023 by a team of doctors, nurses, and health professionals based in Ireland. Their single goal is to help children caught in the crossfire of the current conflict in Palestine. They support frontline medical teams working to treat injured and traumatised children. Hospitals and clinics caring for young patients are facing overwhelming pressure, shortages of essential supplies, and conditions no child should ever endure. This initiative provides direct support for paediatric treatment, medical equipment, and emergency care for the most vulnerable.

By supporting this appeal, you join a school community determined to make a difference — one rooted in faith, justice, and the enduring conviction that every child matters.

Thank you for helping our schools bring care, comfort, and hope to Gaza’s children.