School competitions you can enter now
The European Commission and various NGO's run a large number of competitions on different topics aimed at young people.
Please see below details of these competitions as well as details on how to enter.
You'll also find more information on how you can get your school involved in the competition and you'll be able download material to help you and your school publisise the competition
Spring Day for Europe
Spring Day for Europe is an annual communication campaign which aims to trigger debate and raise awareness of the European Union among young people. This year Spring Day runs from 22 March until 30 June 2010 and will focus in particular on European citizenship and fundamental rights.
Two competitions for primary and secondary schools have been organised as part of Spring Day 2010. The closing date for entries for each of the competitions is 31 May 2010. For more information see www.springday.ie or email springdayireland@gmail.com
Doodle for Europe
Students should take the word ‘Europe’ and create a picture or doodle based around it. The content should relate to the idea of being a citizen of Europe. The work should be maximum A4 size and may be in any medium.
Become teacher for a day!
In groups of three, students are invited to become teachers for a day. Choose from one of the subjects below and present the subject to the rest of your class.
Students will present the chosen subject to the rest of the class using a short powerpoint presentation (4-5 slides).
(i) Get to know Europe Teach your class about other EU countries: geography, culture, traditional food, nature, sustainability, etc.
(ii) How can children help Europe to combat poverty?
(iii) What can Europe do for children? Combating poverty & social exclusion, study and working abroad
(iv) Citizenship and Fundamental Rights (Lisbon Treaty) Based on a questionnaire provided by the teacher, students will present the topic to their class.
Questions such as why are citizenship and rights important for EU citizens? Why are they important to them?
Prizes
1st Prize - Laptop computer
2nd Prize - iPod
+ 4 Runner-Up prizes of €50 book tokens
Prizes will be awarded in two categories: primary and post-primary
To get involved, register your school at www.springday.ie or email springdayireland@gmail.com for information on how to enter.
Schools' Essay Competition
Winners announced
Sixth Year student, Emily Rutherford, from Mallow, Co. Cork, has been named winner of a nationwide essay competition organised by the European Commission. At a prize-giving ceremony held today in Dublin, Emily was presented with thousands of euro worth of prizes by a judging panel which included screenwriter and Horslips band-member Barry Devlin and Director of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, Martin Territt.
As part of the year-long ‘TalktoEU’ initiative designed to promote greater public understanding of the EU in Ireland, students from all over the country were invited to compose a 1000 word essay on the topic: ‘What’s this European Union thingy doing for me?’ Emily’s essay, which was selected from hundreds of submissions to become the overall winner, focused particularly on the impact of the EU on cultural diversity and gender equality within its borders, as well as the part it will play in major global issues such as climate change.
As overall winner, Emily was presented with a new Macbook Pro Laptop, an itouch, a €1000 Apple voucher, €200 book voucher, and €2500 worth of cash for her school - St Mary’s Secondary School in Mallow - to purchase much-needed equipment.
Speaking at the ceremony, Barry Devlin commented: “As a judge, I was so impressed by the level of understanding and insight demonstrated by the students who entered the TalktoEU essay competition. I was delighted to be involved in a programme that gives young people this voice and the opportunity to express their opinions on the important issues of their future.”
Martin Territt, Director of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, added: “The participation of young people in Ireland is essential to the evolution of the European Union. This essay competition, and the umbrella TalktoEU programme, challenges Irish citizens to really discover and understand the difference the EU makes to their day-to-day lives.”
You can read the winning essay in each category and the essays of the runners up by clicking on their names below.
Senior Category
Junior Category
- 1st - Aoife Finnegan, St. Clares College, Virginia Rd.,Ballyjamesduff , Co. Cavan
- 2nd - Lucy Costello, The Royal and Prior Comprehensive, Raphoe, Co. Donegal
- 3rd - Kristiana Hirmo, Ard Scoil Eanna, 314/316 Crumlin Rd, Crumlin, Dublin 12