Donegal voices were front and centre as President Michael D. Higgins was honoured with the inaugural Global Voice for Humanity Award, recognising his lifelong commitment to justice, human dignity, and inclusive education.
The award was presented at the recent Irish Development Education Association (IDEA) Annual Conference – a national gathering of educators and advocates working on international development, global justice, and global citizenship education.
The ceremony featured a strong Donegal presence, with multiple educators and organisations from the county taking part. Among them was Myra McAuliffe, Project Coordinator with ChangeMakers Donegal – a Global Citizenship Education community project based at the Inishowen Development Partnership.
Myra McAuliffe (on right), and (left) Elaine Mahon of IDEA
The award ceremony was led by IDEA’s CEO, Ruairí McKiernan (featured photo), who has strong roots in Donegal. A former resident of both Letterkenny and Ballyshannon, McKiernan co-founded the national youth organisation SpunOut.ie alongside Keith Corcoran and Anna Lally during his time in the county. He later served on the Council of State alongside President Higgins and reflected on the President’s enduring legacy:
“President Higgins has long been a rare kind of leader – someone who combines intellectual courage with deep humanity,” said McKiernan. “He has spent a lifetime standing up for the marginalised and challenging us to think critically and act with compassion. We’ve seen this through his unwavering advocacy for the people of Palestine, among many other peoples and causes. Through his leadership and example, he has inspired generations to believe in the power of education and the importance of active citizenship,” Ruairí said.
The event was attended by nearly 200 participants representing organisations from throughout Ireland, including a strong contingent of educators and organisations connected to Donegal. Among them was the Derry-based organisation Children in Crossfire, which works extensively across the region.
Myra McAuliffe said: “I had a fantastic experience attending the IDEA Annual Conference, where President Michael D. Higgins was honoured with the inaugural Global Voice for Humanity Award. He spoke passionately about the transformative power of education and emphasised the importance of upholding the values of equality and inclusion.
“His reflections on global food security resonated deeply with me, especially as we had just focused on this topic during our 13th annual seminar. I was particularly moved by his call to ‘have the courage to question’ and to confront the structures that uphold inequality. His challenge to reject outdated development models and embrace ‘globalisation from below’ speaks directly to the heart of our work in the community.”
The Global Voice for Humanity Award was established by IDEA to honour individuals whose lives and work embody the values of Global Citizenship Education (GCE) – justice, equality, sustainability, and solidarity.
Speaking after the award ceremony, IDEA CEO Ruairí McKiernan said “President Higgins has long inspired those working for justice and social change in Ireland and around the world. It was a true privilege for IDEA to honour him with this award, that there was such a strong Donegal presence at the ceremony”.
