Scoil Mhuire Buncrana student Caoimhe Lafferty was a highly commended runner-up in the ActionTalks final, which is a national speech writing competition run by ActionAid.
ActionAid works with women and children, as they take the lead in claiming their human rights to build a more just world.
Out of 112 entrants from 20 schools in 12 counties across the country, Caoimhe was one of seven chosen to deliver her speech in front of a panel of expert judges in Dublin’s Royal Irish Academy in March.
Judges included journalist and broadcaster Philip Boucher-Hayes; Róisín Gallagher, Coordinator, Irish Consortium on Gender based violence; Writer and Advocate Deborah Oniah and Maria Riordan Education Officer Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs.
Caoimhe Lafferty and CEO of ActionAid Ireland Karol Balfe
CEO of ActionAid Ireland Karol Balfe said: “It was heartening to see so many students across the country take part in the competition this year and share their views on global issues so articulately and with such passion. The high standard and obvious passion made it very difficult to judge at every stage of the competition. Caoimhe narrowly missed out on the top spot but should be so proud of her hard work and delivering such an excellent speech.”
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 students wrote speeches on climate crisis, gender-based violence and unpaid care work.
This competition is supported by Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs, as part of an ActionAid Ireland women’s rights programme in Kenya, Nepal and Ethiopia.
