Pupils and teachers from Naomh Tomas National School, Rathowen and St Clare’s National School, Glasson, will showcase their projects alongside those from 13 other schools across the region at the north-west regional final in Sligo on Monday, May 15.
Congratulating the teachers and pupils, Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Joe McHugh, said that the standard of project entries this year had been exceptionally high.
“My warmest congratulations go to the teachers and pupils at Naomh Tomas National School and St Clare’s National School, Glasson on being named regional finalists,” he said.
“Thousands of primary school pupils across Ireland taking part in the awards have been learning how they, as global citizens, can make a tangible difference to the lives of others in developing countries, and help to protect our environment for the future of the planet.
“They have also discovered how the Irish people, through Irish Aid, have been supporting some of the world’s most vulnerable people in Ireland’s eight partner countries. This is hugely important in terms of developing our national understanding of Ireland’s role in contributing to the U.N. Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
“The standard of entries this year was exceptionally high and, having met to choose the regional finalists, the judges now have a difficult task ahead of them in order to decide which of the 60 entries across the four regional finals will go on to the national final event.”
Now in their 12th year, the Our World Irish Aid Awards help primary school pupils learn about the lives of children and their families in developing countries, and how Ireland and 192 other countries are working together to create a safer and fairer world and a better future for all the world’s children through the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
All 15 schools chosen to participate in the Sligo regional final will be presented with an ‘Our World Irish Aid Award’ plaque, and three schools will be selected to compete alongside nine other schools in the final in Dublin Castle on Tuesday, June 13. There will also be additional special awards for the Teacher of the Year and Best Newcomer School.
