ActionTalks National Speech Writing Competition
About ActionTalks
ActionTalks is the newly relaunched ActionAid National Speech Writing Competition.
The competition is open to all students aged 14 to 17. The first prize is a €500 One4All voucher for the winning student and a €500 One4All voucher for their teacher.
To enter, write a five-minute or 600-word speech. Entries are to be sent by email from the student’s teacher to comms.ireland@actionaid.org by Friday 15th January 2021.
Topics
Choose one of the following:
The coronavirus pandemic is an opportunity to imagine a more equal and sustainable world, but we must act now.
With a shocking increase in violence against women and girls, the coronavirus pandemic has shown us that the struggle for gender equality is far from over.
The coronavirus pandemic has reminded us of the importance of global solidarity and international aid.
What we are looking for
Finalists will come up with innovative, well-researched, and creative speeches. They will effectively connect their own unique perspective of growing up in a pandemic to global issues.
The final
The final will take place in February 2020 over Zoom. Each finalist will be asked to deliver their speeches virtually to a panel of esteemed judges.
About ActionAid
ActionAid provides long term support to the poorest and most marginalised women and children in developing countries, so they can overcome the obstacles holding them back. Its Women’s Rights Programme, funded by Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs, works to eliminate violence against women and girls by engaging with women and girls, as well as men and boys. Throughout 2020 the programme has also been supporting communities in Nepal, Kenya, and Ethiopia to stay safe during the coronavirus pandemic. Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs, programmes are funded by Irish citizens and are part of Ireland’s important global role in overcoming poverty and inequality.
2020 Competition
Tara McLaughlin, a student at The Grammar School in Co Sligo and Edel Colgan, a student at St Leo’s College in Co Carlow won the 2020 ActionAid Speech Writing Competition.
The final, held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic, was attended by over 70 people – with attendees hailing as far as the United States and Greece.
The finalists delivered their passionate speeches in front of a panel of esteemed judges:
Saoirse McHugh (Green Party & Climate Activist)
Shane Keenan (Policy Lead – Gender Equality, Irish Aid)
Órla Ryan (Journalist with the Journal.ie)
Dr Ciarán O’Carroll (Climate Scientist & Extinction Rebellion )
The speeches, which all looked at the intersection between climate justice and gender equality, were judged on delivery, writing skills, and understanding of the topic.
While all the finalists demonstrated a keen interest in women’s rights and climate justice, there could only be two winners.
Edel Colgan and Tara McLaughlin stood out for their critical thinking, depth of research, originality and outstanding delivery.
To hear Tara deliver her speech go to the following link
https://actionaid.ie/speech-writing-competition/
Any student interested in this competition make contact with Ms Harte.