Minister Burton Awards Prizes to Schoolchildren

On Friday, Minister of State Joan Burton T.D, welcomed children, parents and teachers, from all over the country to the prizegiving ceremony of the 1997 Irish Aid/INTO National Primary Schools Poster Competition. The Minister noted that all the children had come together today for one reason - to receive some well deserved recognition for all the thought and work they put into their posters.

Children throughout the country had been invited to submit posters comparing the lives of children in Ethiopia and in Ireland showing how the two countries can learn from

and help each other. The Minister said this was not just an art competition. It required those taking part to think about different ways of life and different cultures.

She remarked that often, when we think of developing countries, we only think in negative terms- of people suffering, the effects of war, famine and drought. She reminded those present that only a decade ago over a million people in Ethiopia died of drought and starvation and many more were killed in a civil war which raged for seventeen years.

Now,she said, Ethiopia is looking forward to the new millennium with a democratically elected government committed to human rights and democracy.

Minister Burton said that one of the aims of this competition is to give the children of Ireland an insight into Irish Aid`s work in other parts of the world and to give them a sense of

ownership of our aid programme. She reiterated that Irish Aid is working on behalf of all of

the people of Ireland to try to create a world without hunger and poverty.

She said that she was delighted to see that so many of the posters submitted recognised that

working in developing countries is a two way process. "Development assistance is about partnership and sharing. I have stated before that I believe that building bridges of justice and partnership between the world`s peoples is, at the end of the day, the fundamental goal of Development Cooperation."

The Minister remarked that this competition allows children in Ireland to have real one to one interaction with their peers in the developing world because, as well as substantial prizes for individual winners and their schools, the winners can nominate schools in developing countries to share in their success. She was pleased to learn that some of the schools present are hoping that this may provide an opportunity for them to forge more lasting links with their nominated schools, allowing the children, both here and in the developing country, to grow up together with a greater appreciation and empathy for each other`s lives. Given that the children of today will be the decision makers of tomorrow, such interaction could only have a beneficial effect on the world as a whole as we enter the next millennium.

Finally Minister Burton praised the many children throughout the country who had submitted entries and sent a special word of thanks to all the teachers who gave their help and encouragement to the children.

Winners

Under Nine Years

1st Prize: Mercy Primary School, Cappoquin, Co Waterford

2nd Prize:Scoil Bhride, Blanchardstown, Dublin

3rd Prize:Mercy School, St Johns Road, Wexford

Nine Years and Over

1st Prize: SN Mhuire ns nGael, Dundalk , Co Louth

2nd Prize:Scoil an Leinbh Iosa, Lifford, Co Donegal

3rd Prize: St Josephs SNS, Ballymun, Dublin

Special Education

1st Prize: St Annes , Roscrea, Co Tipperary

2nd Prize: St Kevin`s BNS, Barry Avenue, Finglas West, Dublin

Joint 3rd Prize: St Oliver Plunketts NS, Monkstown, Co Dublin

Creagh NS, Ballinasloe, Co Galway

Highly Commended

St Thomas`s NS, Esker, Lucan, Co Dublin

Annaghadown NS, Corrandulla, Co Galway

St Joseph`s , Macroom, Co Cork

Scoil Thomais Naofa, Castleknock, Dublin 15

Kerry Pike NS, Cork

St Joseph`s , Balcurris Road,Ballymun, Dublin

St Patrick`s BNS, Ringsend, Dublin

Ratoath NS, Co Meath

Lurgybrack NS, Letterkenny, Co Donegal.

St Senan`s NS, Kilrush, Co Clare

St Kevin`s GNS, Kilnamanagh, Tallagh, Dublin

Barnashrone NS, Mountmellick, Co Laois

St John`s NS, Ashe Street, Tralee, Co Kerry

Moyvore NS, Mullingar, Co Westmeath

St Kevin`s BNS, Barry Avenue, Finglas West, Dublin

Shanbally NS, Ringaskiddy, Co Cork

St Louis GNS, Monaghan

St Mary`s Aughnasheelin, Ballinamore, Co Leitrim

SN Mhuire na nGael, Bay Estate ,Dundalk, Co Louth

*First Prize in each section, £350 to winning school, £100 to be shared among winning children and £350 to a school of the winners choice in a developing country.Top