Last chance for students in Dublin county to enter national speech writing competition

Students in Dublin county are reminded that the deadline for entries to the ActionTalks national speech writing competition is coming up on Friday 24^h January.

The competition, now in its eleventh 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 leadership role of women during emergencies, conflict and climate disasters; the impact of climate change on women’s rights and overseas aid and women’s rights organisations.

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 eleventh 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 the impact of climate change on women’s rights and overseas aid and women’s rights organisations. Today we are reminding students to be sure to enter their speeches before the deadline of Friday 24^th 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 play an important global role in supporting women and girls

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