OUR WORLD IRISH AID AWARDS - SHORT-LIST ANNOUNCED!

An Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha               Preas Ráiteas

Department of Foreign Affairs                Press Release

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OUR WORLD IRISH AID AWARDS - SHORT-LIST ANNOUNCED!

The short-list of finalists for the fifth annual Our World Irish Aid Awards programme for primary schools has been announced. The Awards encourage primary pupils across Ireland to think about the lives of children in developing countries and create projects in a variety of media which explore the challenges faced by young people in developing countries. The theme of this year’s Awards is ‘Hunger in Our World’. Projects by the following schools have been short-listed for the Our World Irish Aid Awards and pupils and teachers will attend the Awards ceremony in Dublin Castle on Tuesday, 26 January:

School:                        Castleblaney N.S., Monaghan         

Project Title:     A Divided World

School:                        Nazareth House, Derry                    

Project Title:     Our World, Our Fault ,Our Problem

School:                        Crehana N.S., Waterford

Project Title:     Hunger in Our World

School:                        Knockerra N.S., Clare

Project Title:     Stop Hunger in a World of Plenty

School:                        Scoil Eoin Pól, Donegal

Project Title:     Hunger: There is a Cure

School:                        Clonburris N.S., Dublin

Project Title:     Hunger – A Fact of Life/A Fact of Death

School:                        Vicarstown N.S., Cork

Project Title:     Malawi on the Mend

School:                        St. Joseph’s Boys N.S., Limerick

Project Title:     The World is in Our Hands

School:                        St. Anthony’s Boys N.S., Wicklow

Project Title:     One World Newspaper

School:                        St. Mary’s Boys N.S., Louth

Project Title:     Hunger in Our World

School:                        St. Mary’s Boys N.S, Monaghan

Project Title:     Hunger.Fair World = Fairtrade

The core aim of the Our World Irish Aid Awards is to broaden the knowledge and understanding that our young people have with regards to the Millennium Development Goals. Irish Aid is the Government’s aid programme to developing countries. It is run by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Over 500 schools submitted projects for this year’s Our World Irish Aid Awards. It is open to pupils in 3rd through 6th classes (year 4 through year 7 in Northern Ireland).

On the announcement of the shortlist, the Minister of State for Overseas Development, Peter Power, T.D., said:

"I would like to congratulate the eleven schools which have been chosen as finalists in this year’s Awards. I am delighted that the Our World Irish Aid Awards are continuing to attract increasing numbers of primary schools from all over Ireland. The entries received are of an exceptionally high standard, demonstrating the huge interest Irish children have in learning about the lives of people in other parts of the world and that they care deeply about children deprived of their rights because of poverty."

Note to the Editor:

The Our World Irish Aid Awards ceremony will be held on Tuesday, 26 January at Dublin Castle. Popular RTE presenter Rob Ross will act as master of ceremonies at the Awards. One outstanding entry will receive the Our World Irish Aid Award, with runner up projects receiving Highly Commended prizes.

The Our World Irish Aid Awards programme is proudly supported by The Irish Times, as media partner.

For further media information on the Our World Irish Aid Awards please contact Aileen/Mary-Kate at Entertainment Architects on 01 2194662

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5 January 2010

Press Office