DUBLIN students are being invited to enter an annual competition designed to promote responsible drinking and develop
‘real-life’ skills.
The Dare2bdrinkaware.ie creative competition has a prize fund totalling e6,000 and successful students will receive mentoring from industry experts and support from celebrity
‘champions’.
The competition began in 2007 with a focus on short films promoting sensible drinking, and Dublin teams have featured heavily in the shortlisted and prize-winning entries down through the years.
In the first round this year, which is open for entries until December 2, students are invited to submit their ideas for creative campaigns promoting responsible drinking.
Those who make it through to the second round will then receive funding to implement their campaign, and will get mentoring from industry experts, as well as a
‘celebrity champion’ who will support their team and attend events in their college.
Once all campaigns have been implemented, there will be a final gala showcase event where shortlisted teams will pitch to a panel of high-profile judges, outlining the impact and success of their campaign.
The overall winners will be chosen live at the event and the winning team will receive prize-money of e3,000. The next two best-placed teams will receive prizes of e2,000 and e1,000.
Speaking at the launch of Dare2bdrinkaware.ie earlier this week, Chief Executive of drinkaware.ie, Fionnuala Sheehan, said the competition was revamped this year to provide greater benefits for the students who take part.
“In the past, Dare2bdrink aware.ie was confined to film and multimedia entries,
? she said.
“This year, we want to see entries for campaigns of any sort – so long as they promote responsible drinking.
“They could be events, marketing campaigns, websites, community-based initiatives, viral campaigns, online games and so on. It’s really up to each team that enters to be as creative and innovative as possible.
“We welcome entries from students’ unions and college clubs and societies in Dublin, as well as individual teams of students.
“By encouraging shortlisted teams to actually implement their campaigns – and then inviting them to pitch to a panel of expert judges – we are aiming to provide students with
‘real-life’ experience.
“As we all know, it is essential that graduates nowadays can demonstrate tangible experience in their chosen field in order to gain a competitive edge.
“The revamped format this year will give students exactly this type of experience – in areas such as project management, financial control, awareness-raising, teamwork, communication skills and pitching.
“
Two of the celebrity champions lined up for the competition this year are radio presenter, footballer and entrepreneur Eamon Fennell and well-known actor and writer Emmet Kirwan who believes one of the strengths of the competition is its emphasis on peer-to-peer communication.
“No young person likes being told what they should or shouldn’t do,
? he said.
“The great thing about Dare2bdrinkaware.ie is that the creative campaigns will be developed by students themselves, and targeted at their fellow students. This, we hope, will mean the campaigns are fresh, creative and resonate well with their target audience.
“Participating in the competition has lots of benefits for students in Dublin and around the country; they get the chance to come up with a really innovative idea for a campaign, and then to receive funding to make that idea actually happen.
“And, in doing that – probably in collaboration with a group of their mates – they also get experience, mentoring and networking opportunities that will really stand to them in the long term. At the same time, they’re raising awareness of an important issue: the need for more responsible attitudes to drinking.
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To find out how to enter the competition visit dare2bdrinkaware.ie.