More young people take part in the President's Award scheme in this State than in the other 59 countries participating in the project, it emerged yesterday.
To take part in the challenge, participants must achieve a goal in four different areas: community involvement, a skill, a physical feat, and an adventure.
Mr John Murphy, chief executive of Gaisce, the national challenge award, said that up to 18 per cent of 15 to 25-year-olds took part in the Irish scheme, "the highest penetration in the world".
He said this was a very encouraging statistic, given all the alternatives being offered to teenagers today. The scheme is entering its 20th year, but last year's participation was the highest ever.
Yesterday, 67 young people from all over the State received gold medals for their participation in the President's Award. Some 11,500 took part in the scheme this year, with about half the participants dropping out before achieving their gold, silver or bronze medals.
Secondary school teacher Ms Neasa Moloney (24), from Clondalkin, Dublin, received a gold medal for spearheading the raising of more than €67,000 for Concern over a two-year period and for working as a volunteer in Rwanda.
She also spent more than a year learning Cantonese from Ms Amy Tsoi, a Hong Kong student at her school.
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