Sixth class pupils of Sacred Heart National School in Aughrim, Co Wicklow were declared the overall winners of the Our World Irish Aid Awards at a ceremony in Dublin Castle last week. Minister of State for Trade and Development, Joe Costello, presented the award before an audience of 300 children and teachers from primary schools across Ireland.
The Our World Irish Aid Awards encourage young people from around Ireland to learn more about the lives of children in developing nations. The theme of this year’s competition was ‘Caring for Our Planet, Feeding Our World’.
The winning project, titled ‘Don’t Stop Believing’, focuses on the similarities that exist between Ireland and Uganda. The Wicklow pupils produced a song, board game, mural, book and a 3D sustainable village model.
Minister Costello said: “Their creative project demonstrates a strong understanding of the Millennium Development Goals and will prove a useful resource for those wishing to learn more about global development.”
He added: “I believe it is crucial that children in Ireland understand they have a role to play in making the world a fairer place. It’s clear from the great diversity and creativity of the projects here today that pupils are truly engaged with the problems of hunger and climate change which are among the most pressing challenges facing the global community.”
More than 9,000 students from 450 national schools took part in this year’s Our World Irish Aid Awards. Sacred Heart National School was one of 11 schools shortlisted at this year’s ceremony, which was hosted by RTÉ presenter Rob Ross.
