A Galway school was presented with the “Our World” Irish Aid Award by Minister of State for Overseas Development Peter Power this afternoon at Dublin Castle.
The boys of St Patrick's National School in the city centre won the award for their project A Better World, A Better Place, A Better School. It examined the role Irish children can play in improving the lives of children in other parts of the world and the importance of education in long-term development.
The awards, now in their fourth year, encourage primary school pupils to think about the lives of children in developing countries and learn about the Millennium Development Goals.
The eight Millenium Development Goals were agreed by the UN in 2000 and require the international community to eradicate world poverty, achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality, reduce child mortality and improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS and other diseases, ensure environmental sustainability and develop a global partnership for development.
More than 500 schools entered projects for this year’s awards.
Speaking at the presentation Mr Power said the entries showed the huge interest among Irish children in learning about the world around them and “their concern for children in developing countries who are deprived of their most basic rights because of poverty.”
Eleven schools received highly commended prizes at the awards. They were Sandford Parish NS in Ranelagh, Dublin 6; St. Colmcille's JNS, Knocklyon, Dublin 16; Scoil an Chroi Naofa, Tralee, Co. Kerry; Gaelscoil Nas Na Riogh, Co. Kildare; Mother of Fair Love Special School, Kilkenny; Castleblaney Central School, Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan; Ballinahinch NS, Birdhill, Co. Tipperary; St. Theresa's Primary School, Strabane, Co. Tyrone; Waterford Educate Together NS, Tycor, Waterford; St. Peter's NS, Athlone, Co. Westmeath; and Kilmyshall NS, Bunclody, Co. Wexford