Press release
Minister Fleming launches the Our World Irish Aid Awards 2023
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
Sean Fleming, Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, joined pupils at Holy Family National School, Portlaoise today to launch the 2023 Our World Irish Aid Awards.
The Our World Irish Aid Awards encourages primary school children to submit projects looking at Ireland’s role in tackling the big issues facing people around the world. This year’s theme urges pupils to follow the lead of activists such as education campaigner and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai and raise their voices in support of Equality for All.
Inviting primary school pupils to take part, Minister Fleming said:
"Here in Ireland, we believe in everybody having the right to be treated equally regardless of factors like gender or race. Sadly that is not the case in many countries. This year’s Our World Irish Aid Awards invites young people to use their creativity to promote equality for everyone.
"Pupils taking part will learn about how inequality affects young people like them in different parts of the world. We want them to think about which inequalities they want to raise their voice about. I would encourage pupils and teachers all over Ireland to get involved. I look forward to seeing their projects later this year."
Adding her endorsement, Minister for Education Norma Foley said:
"The Our World Irish Aid Awards have become a regular part of the annual school calendar with teachers and pupils alike looking forward to taking part. The resources offered to teachers are carefully thought-out and cover a myriad of aspects of the curriculum within in the context of the Awards theme, which this year is Equality for All. Their content is engaging, encouraging and inspiring, and will help support our school communities and wider society."
Specially created curriculum-linked teaching and learning materials have been delivered to all primary schools in Ireland, helping teachers and pupils discover more about the theme of Equality of All and each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Irish Aid’s focus countries. The materials include a pupil’s magazine, lesson plans, activity sheets and online games, available in English and as Gaeilge in print and digital format.
Schools are invited to express their ideas and understanding of the issues in writing, song, film, artwork or another medium of their choosing.
As in the previous two years, the Our World Irish Aid Awards will include a series of Global Goal Getters online multi-media magazines featuring projects submitted by pupils around Ireland as a way of showcasing learning, creativity and actions nationwide.
Submissions are now being accepted and the final closing date for projects is Friday 31 March 2023. All submissions received on or before Monday 13 February 2023 will be in with a chance to win a box of sustainable art materials.
Now in their 18th year, the Our World Irish Aid Awards 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 citizen education, helping to reinforce the importance of the global development work carried out by the government on behalf of the people of Ireland.
This year pupils will learn about 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. They will also learn about Mary Joseph and her family, residents of a village in southern Malawi, south-east Africa, and their experience of taking part in the Irish Aid funded Tiwoloke programme delivered by Concern Worldwide, learning about business, setting up a shop and generating a profit which has transformed their lives.
Irish Aid is the government’s overseas assistance programme. It is managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
For further information go to www.irishaid.ie. For more information on how to take part in the Our World Irish Aid Awards 2023 and the Global Goals for Sustainable Development please visit Home - Irish Aid Awards (ourworldirishaidawards.ie).