St Catherine’s Vocational School student, Clara McGuinness, has been recognised as an Outstanding Ambassador for female cycling in Ireland.
Miss McGuinness is one of 3 ambassadors honoured for their exceptional contributions to the #andshecycles campaign.
An initiative of Green-Schools Travel, the #andshecycles campaign was developed following research which indicated a staggering discrepancy in the number of female teens who cycle to school, compared to their male counterparts, with estimates as low as just one in every 250 girls across Ireland cycling. The aim of the campaign is to explore, understand and address barriers to cycling for teenage girls.
Green-Schools #andshecycles Outstanding Ambassador Clara McGuinness from St Catherine’s Vocational School, Killybegs. Miss McGuinness is one of 3 ambassadors honoured for their exceptional contributions to the campaign
The #andshecycles Ambassador Programme is an extension of this campaign with a focus on addressing the teenage cycling gender gap through trained student leaders who take action to enable and empower teenage girls to cycle to school.
Throughout the school year, student ambassadors have taken part in a number of trainings including leadership and communication, bike maintenance, track cycling, and ambassador training, which have helped them to achieve significant actions within their school communities.
This year’s 44 ambassadors were celebrated for their achievements at the ceremony in Richmond Barracks in Dublin on the 1st of May.
All ambassadors received a medal for their contributions, and were congratulated by An Taisce’s Director of Education, Cathy Baxter. Cycling enthusiast and performer Elaine Gallagher also provided enlightening entertainment on the history of women cycling.
