Gaelic Football for International students

Who are we?

Previously we organised “come try” taster sessions for the student body to include international students with great success. This programme allows us to engage with the Student’s Union and accommodation divisions at Queen’s to specifically target the 1000’s of International students on campus. During this new programme we will be offering students intensive skills-based training focused on developing their GAA skills and more importantly helping them integrate into the biggest sporting club in Queen’s. We are also using the programme to help the students link with the Queen’s wellbeing team and community teams to promote the opportunities available to socially interact with home students during their time at Queen’s. With this focus, we are trying to create a team of International Students that will take part in the Asian Games in 2025. This would be a fantastic achievement for all involved and we believe this programme will be the foundation for that goal.

As this programme is run in partnership with the GAA Academy, the coaches involved are current students who are members of the Queen's GAA Club.

Why are we crowdfunding?

This programme is open to all Queen's International students. We have students from various countries including America, India, Singapore, Peru and Russia highlighting how globally attractive Queen’s University is to International students. Throughout the programme students will be introduced to Irish Culture through Sport.

During the programme International students are able to come together to learn new skills through a sport which they previously had never heard of. Through this programme many of the students will make friends with other international students who share the same experience of moving to a different country and culture. 

 We hope that students joining the programme will feel less isolated and will be more involved in student life, interacting more freely with other students who are also on the programme.

Another positive impact of this programme revolves around the students who coach on this programme. Through this programme they will be able to develop their leadership and communication skills through coaching. This can only benefit  their own sporting career but also develop skills important in helping them to obtain a university degree.

We plan to run participation and taster sessions for all our International students. We want to provide an opportunity to those who may not have played before, We aim to also reduce social anxiety as well as increasing physical, social and mental wellbeing. Post training session, we aim to cater for our students who can relax and get to know each other off the pitch as well within the social setting of the club through various social gatherings during the incoming term.

How we’ll spend the money raised

Our Targets

Increase our International Student membership- we will continue to promote and provide the support to allow International students to take part in Gaelic Games at Queen's. This will be achieved through our various taster and International Student sessions and coaching programme. 

Coach/volunteer education - we will embark on a education scheme to ensure every new student coach is qualified to a minimum of foundation level. We want to increase the number of female coaches within our club. More established coaches will move on to complete their level 1 or level 2 coaching award. All coaches will also have to update/complete their Safeguarding one qualification as well as first aid.

Equipment -  We will plan to have new equipment for each coaching team and branded Queen's Gear for all of our International Student members.

Player/Project identity - we will give every  player a piece of merchandise with the Queen's GAA  image.

Health and Wellbeing - we want to run a raft of initiatives/events to promote healthy lifestyles and to create environments for social interaction for all students but particularly our  new members many of whom are moving away from home for the first time.

Student Safety and Mental Wellbeing - We want to deliver a programme that provides our International students with a enjoyable experience and a club they can feel part of while at Queen's. 

Community impact

What we intend to do

We at Queen's realised the hugely positive effect GAA at Queen's had on our student community with great benefits on their physical, social and mental wellbeing so we wanted these benefits to be extended to our International students.

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How you can play your part

TAKE THE NEXT STEP

Your support for Queen’s GAA  provides our international students with an opportunity to play Gaelic Games. Queen’s GAA has produced some of the games sporting greats and we continue to nurture some of Ireland’s best sporting talent. Your gift  benefits players at all levels and helps us maintain the GAA tradition in Queen’s. 

1.We will employ specialised coaches for our programmes

a) help develop each player's skill set.

b) help train up our existing internal and indeed newcomer coaches so they can deliver the International GAA Programme.

2. We will purchase relevant equipment and other coaching aids which will be beneficial for the attainment of the students' coaching and fitness goals