A NORTHSIDE student was celebrating recently after winning an award in a personal development programme for young people.
Aoibhe Conway, from St Mary’s Holy Faith Secondary School, Killester, was among 140 young people countrywide who received their Silver Gaisce award at a ceremony in The Helix.
Gaisce – The President’s Award is a programme for young people which enhances confidence and wellbeing through participation in personal, physical and community challenges.
To complete her Gaisce award, Aoibhe had to complete a number of tasks. For 26 weeks she worked on her personal skill of cross-stitching, her physical skill of running and her community involvement as a Ladybird Young Leader at her local Irish Girl Guide branch in Rivervalley, Swords.
Aoibhe also completed an adventure journey and climbed Cuilcagh Mountain in County Fermanagh. With help from her incredible Gaisce PAL (President’s Award Leader) Kay Durkin, Aoibhe completed her award.
Silver awardees, honoured on the night, successfully completed at least 26 weeks across three different challenge areas and undertook a three-day adventure journey. The adventure journey incorporated either a 50km walk or a 190km cycle. Over 1,000 Silver Awards will be achieved across Ireland in 2018.
Speakers on the night included Paul Keoghan, Irish International Para Athlete, and Olivia Sneyd, a Gaisce Gold awardee and DCU student. The event was MC’d by RTÉ 2FM presenter Stephen Byrne with Yvonne McKenna, chief executive of Gaisce, presenting the awards.
Ms McKenna congratulated the awardees on their achievement.
“Completing a Silver Gaisce Award is no easy feat and each and every one of them has dedicated significant time and effort towards developing skills, helping in their communities, becoming more active and exploring their sense of adventure,” said Ms McKenna.
“We are so proud of them and, of course, their wonderful President’s Award Leaders who mentored them through their Gaisce journey.
“The awardees aren’t only incredible ambassadors for Gaisce, but also their families and communities.”