Belfast City Hall was lit up on Friday night in the colours of a West Belfast primary school to raise awareness of homelessness in the city.
The John Paul II Primary School pupils also highlighted the crisis in a ‘Stay Out’ day staged throughout Friday.
The action follows a motion the schools primary six class brought to Belfast City Council last year on homelessness across Belfast.
Raymond Hunter, Principle of the school, said: “Children from John Paul II Primary School raised the plight of homelessness in Belfast in December by presenting a motion at Belfast City Council."
He added: "The children have raised the profile once again by asking the council to light up the City Hall from dusk to midnight in their school colours.
"This will mark the start of a year-long fundraising campaign by the schoolchildren, which started with a ‘Stay Out’ sponsored session when they empathised with the homeless.”
Last year, over 20,000 people were registered as homeless in Northern Ireland, prompting a call for urgent action.
Earlier this month, SDLP Justice spokesperson Mark H Durkan, said the time for "robust and honest conversations" was long overdue.
Pattrice Hardy the class teacher spoke about how proud she was of the children.
She told the Mirror: “The children in primary six have demonstrated great empathy and compassion over the last few months.
"The voice of the child really can be a powerful tool. The children their initiative to lobby local politicians and bring a motion to Belfast City Council."
She added: "They have made history as the City Hall is lit up in our school colours to help raise awareness across Belfast.
"The entire school, the local community of Ballymurphy and further afield are extremely proud of all the boys and girls."
