Last chance for Dublin students to enter national speech writing competition 

Students in Dublin are reminded that the deadline for entries to the ActionTalks national speech writing competition is coming up on Friday 12th January. 

The competition, now in its tenth year, is an opportunity for young people to explore the root causes of local and global injustices and inequalities.

This year’s themes focus on the climate crisis, gender-based violence and unpaid care work.

Entries to the competition can be submitted to ActionAid by email in written form and fifteen successful entrants will go forward to the regionals final, with six regional winners winning a €50 voucher each.

At the national final in March, the six finalists will be asked to present their speech to a panel of esteemed judges.

The national prize is a €500 voucher for the winner and a €100 voucher for their teacher.

The competition is designed to build students’ research, writing, critical thinking and public speaking skills.

ActionAid is hoping entrants will examine how the concentration of power and resources in northern countries impacts the lives of people in the global south.

Karol Balfe, CEO of ActionAid Ireland said: “This is the tenth year of the ActionTalks competition.

“Year after year we receive high quality, unique and inspiring speeches from students right across the country.

“We are excited to hear what young people have to say on important issues like unpaid care work, gender-based violence and the climate crisis.

“Today we are reminding students to be sure to enter their speeches before the deadline of Friday 12th January.”

ActionAid works with women and children, as they take the lead in claiming their human rights to build a more just world. ActionAid’s Women’s Rights programme, funded by Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs, works to eliminate violence against women and girls.

Irish Aid programmes are funded by Irish citizens and are part of Ireland’s important global role.

To enter, students can ask their teacher for details or visit https://actionaid.ie/speech-writing-competition/