January 24, 2019

International Day of Education

The first Mercy classroom in the House of Mercy, Baggot Street Dublin, now Mercy International Centre. © 1992 Mercy International Association (MIA)

On 3 December 2018, the UN General Assembly adopted with consensus a resolution proclaiming 24 January as International Day of Education, in celebration of the role of education for peace and development.

Read the Message on the occasion of the International Day of Education from Audrey Azoulay, Director General, here: English, Español

MIA supports UNESCO's affirmation that 'Education is a human right, a public good and a public responsibility'.

Catherine McAuley's lifelong commitment was to the empowering of persons who were poor to lead happy, mutually sustaining lives. She believed in developing the skills and talents of girls and women, convinced that 'no work of charity can be more productive of good to society or more conducive to the happiness of the poor than the careful instruction of women, since whatever be the station they are destined to fill, their example and advice will always possess influence, and where ever a religious woman presides, peace and good order are generally to be found'. (Rule 2. 5).

Today, Mercy kindergartens, schools, colleges, universities and other places of education can be found all over the world. Is yours listed here?

Find out about our Mercy Education Pilgrimage, January 2020
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