An Irish father’s idea for a day in solidarity with refugees has turned into a global event.
Bernard Dunleavy’s Red T-shirt Day initiative came about after the image of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi was shown across the globe earlier this month.
The three-year-old Syrian boy was photographed washed up on a Turkish beach, after he drowned while seeking refuge in Europe, alongside his mother and brother.
Like many parents, Mr Dunleavy - a father-of-four from Howth, Co Dublin - said he was at a loss as to what to do after seeing the image.
Speaking to Talking Point with Sarah Carey on Newstalk earlier this month, Mr Dunleavy explained his idea: “I wanted to do something to make visible my family’s horror at I was happening but I was also looking for a mechanism to explain to my own children - in a way that wouldn’t frighten them - that something is happening to children their own age, not very far away.”
In the image, Aylan is seen lying face down on the beach in a red T-shirt – which struck a chord with Mr Dunleavy: “I thought I would pick a day [September 30th] that I knew children would be going to school and dress them in red t-shirts.”
The Dunleavys - wearing their #redTshirt - heading to Scoil Mhuire in Howth. Donate €4 by texting GOAL4 to 50300. pic.twitter.com/XncDMqoMfH
— Bernard Dunleavy (@DunleavyBernard) September 30, 2015
He contacted his children’s school, Scoil Mhuire in Howth, who were very happy to get on board with the initiative and looked to see how it could spread nationwide.
Once he posted online, schools in Madrid, Scotland, the US also expressed their interest in getting involved.
The completed #redTshirt collage at Scoil Mhuire in Howth...check out the Facebook page to see what else is going on. pic.twitter.com/ju3D27LPVU
— Bernard Dunleavy (@DunleavyBernard) September 30, 2015
“Dressing a small child in a red t-shirt is a very small thing. But this is very local ...it’s not political. It’s a mechanism for parents and children to express their grief and show their solidarity with what is happening.”
Red T-shirt Day has been officially endorsed by charity Goal, with an option for people to fundraise by texting GOAL4 to 50300 to donate €4 should they wish to do so.
