Final call for Kilkenny primary schools to enter the 2023 Our World Irish Aid Awards

Primary school pupils across County Kilkenny are being encouraged to put the finishing touches on their projects in time for the closing date for submissions as the entry deadline for the 2023 Our World Irish Aid Awards approaches.

As in previous years, primary schools throughout the country are competing for the national ‘Our World Irish Aid Awards School of the Year’ award, as well as the Teacher of the Year, Best Entry Submitted in Irish and Best Creative Project titles.

This year’s theme ‘Equality for All’ encourages pupils to follow the lead of activists such as education campaigner and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai and take a stand for Equality for All.

Learning about how inequality affects young people like them in different parts of the world, pupils throughout Ireland have been discovering how activist Malala Yousafzai uses her voice to raise awareness of gender inequality amongst governments, agencies and groups to help build a better world where all children can learn without fear.

“The Our World Irish Aid Awards have featured in classrooms every year for the last 18 years,” said Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Sean Fleming.

“They are the Department of Foreign Affairs’ flagship global citizenship award scheme for primary schools. The awards form an important part of Ireland’s commitment to overseas development and global citizenship education, helping to reinforce the importance of the global development work carried out by Government on behalf of the people of Ireland.

“The entries received so far are of an exceptionally high standard and demonstrate a real commitment amongst our young people to challenge inequality wherever they find or experience it. I wish every school the very best of luck and look forward to meeting the finalists at the national awards ceremony in June.”

This year’s Our World Irish Aid Awards will include a series of Global Goal Getters online multi-media magazines featuring projects submitted by pupils as a way of showcasing learning, creativity, and actions nationwide.

All entries will be assessed on their creativity, understanding of the theme and their impact. The top entries will win a place at the final awards ceremony in June where pupils and their teachers will gather to hear the names of the winners.

The deadline for entries is Friday, March 31.