Overseas Aid Schools Poster Competition Launched

The Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ms Joan Burton TD., announced details today (7th April) of a nationwide primary schools poster competition on the subject of overseas aid. The competition is being run by Irish Aid (the Department of Foreign Affairs` development programme), in conjunction with the INTO. The competition has been launched to coincide with the issue of Irish Aid`s new information fact sheet on Ethiopia. The fact sheet outlines the history of Ethiopia and its people and provides details of how Irish Aid has supported the country`s ongoing development over the years.

The Minister said that the experience of Ethiopia should give hope to countries like Rwanda that have suffered from famine or civil war. She noted that only a decade ago in Ethiopia more than a million people died of drought and starvation and many more as a result of civil war which raged for 17 years. Today Ethiopia is on the brink of a new era with a democratically elected government committed to human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Minister Burton pointed out that Irish Aid`s long-term commitment is to eliminate poverty by promoting sustainable social and economic development and that this has worked particularly well in Ethiopia.

The Minister had met children during her trips to Ethiopia in late 1995 and again in Rwanda, in March of this year, and she was aware that they share many of the same hopes and dreams as children in Ireland. She said that Irish Aid is working to try to give those children ,and millions of children in other developing countries, a future with the opportunity to fulfill these dreams and aspirations.

The Minister accepted that not every child who enters the poster competition can be a prizewinner but she felt that each entrant will gain something very valuable from taking part. She hopes that the children will develop a better understanding of the work of Irish Aid and an empathy with children in developing countries, through their study of the lives of their counterparts in Ethiopia.

COMPETITION DETAILS

Pupils are asked to submit an A2 size poster, in any medium, on the theme "Compare the lives of children in Ethiopia and in Ireland , and show how the two countries can learn from and help each other". The Minister will host a reception for prizewinners where the winning posters will be displayed. A substantial prize fund in excess of £5000 has been allocated with three categories: under nine years, nine years and over and a special education category. First second and third prizes will be awarded in each of the three categories and further awards may be made under the heading "Highly Commended" at the judge`s discretion. First prize in each category will comprise:£350 to the winning school, £100 to the winning student(s), and £350 to a school in a developing country nominated by the prizewinner.Top