A major Youth Achievement Awards Night was held this week in Kilrush as 40 young people were recognised in categories such as film- making, first aid and food safety.
The Awards Showcase included the achievements of participants in the Kilrush Youth Project, the Kilkee Integration Project as well as the Kilrush Youth Diversion Project.
The short movie “Hear my Voice” was screened on the night. This starred a group of dedicated young people from the area who used film as a medium to express their lived experiences. They created, produced and directed the film which earned for themselves and for the Clare Youth Service a national Tusla Child & Youth Participation award. This award recognises good quality work by services and projects in supporting young people’s decision-making.
Senior Manager with Tusla, Áine Mellett, praised the young people for creating the film. “This has been a very enriching and empowering project for the young people who made the “Hear My Voice” film. The project is a great example of the type of young people’s decision-making that the Awards are designed to recognise and celebrate.
“The project from Kilrush is one of the 29 projects from across the country that has been given this special recognition to celebrate the commitment to listening to the voice of children and young people. Tusla partners with Gaisce, the Children’s Rights Alliance, the Office of the Children’s Ombudsman, Hub na nÓg, and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality for this Child and Youth participation award”
The event also saw the presentation of HACCP certs to seven young people and First Aid Certificates to a further thirty-three participants in West Clare projects .
The event was also attended by a large crowd that included parents, funders and partner services.
Garda Juvenile Liaison Officer Deirdre Scanlan was delighted that participants on the local Youth Diversion Project were recognised with a national award,
“We are delighted with the recognition of the work of Clare Youth Service and the Kilrush Youth Diversion Project. This partnership is celebrating a quarter of a century this year and it’s great to see new ideas and innovation coming all the time.”
Adrionna Meere of Clare Youth Service said that the night has been a “celebration of learning, achievement and a commitment to ongoing personal development as young people from Clare Youth Service’s Kilrush Youth Diversion Project, Kilrush Youth Project and Kilkee Integration Project were recognised for their achievements. They identified and pursued these opportunities as something that will be of benefit in everyday life and translate into increasing employability.”
