On Tuesday 20th June 2006, the Donegal County Development Board honoured local young people for their contribution to community life in the county by presenting them with presidential awards in An Grianan Theatre Letterkenny. Those honoured contribute to their community and school life in a wide sphere of activities and initiatives. In this way young people are becoming active citizens. Some of the initiatives that are considered active citizenship include
- Environmental work (for example, litter prevention or recycling)
- Caring for older people, or people with disabilities or special needs, working with Special Olympics
- Cross-Border or Community Peace Work
- Global Development / Support for Developing Countries
- Celebrating Diversity in your community
- Improving Your Environment (school or community)
- Living and Embracing Citizenship (participating in democratic structures, for example, Student Councils, Youth Councils or Comhairle na nÓg.
Cllr Dessie Larkin County Mayor, Mr Michael McLoone County Manager and Cllr Frances Conaghan County Development Board Chairperson, presented the awards to 9 individuals and 6 groups, representing a cross section of young people from the county for their voluntary work in school and community life.
Speaking about the awards, County Mayor, Cllr Dessie Larkin commented that it was “great to see young people being honoured for their positive contributions to society. The range of activities that these recipients are doing in their local communities is amazing, its unseen work but essential if society is to engage its young people in building up social capital and goodwill in our towns and villages. The fact that each of them received an award signed by the President of Ireland adds value to the awards and shows the young people involved how well they are thought off at the highest level”
Those receiving awards Individual Awards
- Lisa Burns for her work on Living & Embracing Citizenship as part of the Donegal Youth Council
- Lee Scanlon for his work with the Special Olympics
- Carol Kearney for her work on Living & Embracing Citizenship as part of the Donegal Youth Council
- Patrick Quinlivan for his work with the Special Olympics
- Kellie Bennett for her work in Caring for older people/people with special needs/Youth council
- Treise O' Callaghan for her work in caring for older people/people with special needs/youth council
- Aine Gallagher for her work in Cross Border Community Peace Work
- Damien Gallagher for his work on Living & Embracing Citizenship as part of the Donegal Youth Council
- Stephen Mc Fadden for his work on Improving Your Environment
Group Awards
- North West Special Olympics Alps Group for their work with Special Olympics
- Inishowen Youth Council for their role in Living & Embracing Citizenship
- Social Enterprise Transition Group, Rosses Community School for their work in Improving Your Environment
- Transition Year, Royal & Prior School for their work in Support for Developing Countries
- Religion Class, Rosses Community School for their work in caring for older people/people with special needs
- Social Outreach Transition Group, Rosses Community School for their work in Improving Your Environment
Background to the Young Citizen Award
2005 was designated by the Council of Europe as the European Year of Citizenship through Education. The Irish Government’s response to this was to promote the voluntary work of young people throughout the country through the 34 CDB’s.
The responsibility for the administration of the scheme, on behalf of the CDB, was delegated to the Donegal Youth Council office in Letterkenny.
Who is the Award for?
Young people between the ages of 12 and 25 who are participating in formal (school) or non-formal (youth organisations and clubs) education and who are involved in voluntary (unpaid) active citizenship initiatives.