Dungannon pupils sign up for SVP virtual book club

PUPILS from St Patrick’s College in Dungannon have signed up for an exciting new online book club which is being hosted by the charity Saint Vincent de Paul.

Tomorrow evening (Tuesday), Young SVP will be hosting a virtual book club at 7pm and organisers are inviting teenagers to come together in the safety of their own home where they will be encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas around books they have read on social justice and the environment.

In this first for SVP NI, they will be urged to be ‘kind and non-judgemental’ during the discussion and debate between those attending this innovative event.

To mark the EU Day for the ‘Eradication of Poverty’, a selection of books on social justice issues with book club activities were distributed to secondary schools across Northern Ireland, together with books that students can share with their local primary schools or younger siblings.

Niamh Mulholland, who is the youth development officer for SVP NI, said, “As we have been unable to host Young SVP initiatives in the usual way this year and as some young people are feeling isolated due to missing out on the interaction they have been used to with their peers, our new virtual Book Club is a great way for young people to connect with each other in a safe space.

“We will be using the time to discuss books they’ve read recently relating to social justice issues, and we will be encouraging them to share their feelings on highly emotive and topical subjects which impact their local communities and the world around them.”

Before attending the virtual Book Club, students should let their parent or guardian know that they are joining, and log in details will be provided by email from SVP NI. If you would like to sign up as an individual or if you would like your school to take part, email info@svpni.co.uk for more information.