Taoiseach Micheál Martin today launched a major competition for young people all across Ireland focused on 50 years of Ireland’s EU membership. An initiative of the Government of Ireland, led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and managed by European Movement Ireland, MyEU50 will engage with students at primary, post-primary and third levels to share their creativity and new ideas about Ireland and Europe. For Primary and Post-Primary Level, there is €2,000 up for grabs for the winning entries, as well as a number of other prizes.
Marking the launch, Taoiseach, Micheál Martin T.D., the Minister for Education, Norma Foley T.D., and the Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne T.D., visited Kildare Place School in Rathmines, Dublin and spoke to pupils about Ireland’s 50 years in the EU and their views about the future.
An Taoiseach said:
I am delighted to launch the MyEU50 Youth Competition. Young people today- perhaps more than any previous generation- have the knowledge, confidence and ability to make their voices heard and drive change in the world. As we mark our 50 years in the EU, a key goal of our EU50 programme has been to recognise those young voices and to engage with young people on the issues that matter most to them.
The MyEU50 youth competition is an excellent way for young people to contribute to the conversations today that will affect their future tomorrow. The challenges we face, and the manner in which they are resolved, will have consequences long into the future. I believe the European Union is the only way that Europe can successfully meet these challenges. In doing so, it will be imperative that young people are involved in every step of the way.
The future of this country, and of the EU, lies in the hands of our youth. It is therefore fitting that, through the MyEU50 competition, they will get the opportunity to explore and express their relationship with the EU and how they want that to evolve over the next 50 years.
Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD said:
“I am delighted to visit Kildare Place School today to launch this MyEU50 competition which highlights the importance of our EU membership. This excellent initiative gives students a chance to use their creativity to commemorate this important milestone.
“There is so much fascinating history for students to examine across the European Union and I would encourage all of our primary and post-primary schools to register their interest for this competition.”
Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne TD said:
"Today we launch the latest element of the EU50 programme: The MyEU50 Youth Competition.
I am delighted to join An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD and Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD to launch this exciting competition.
MyEu50 brings the EU directly to our youth and lets them express, through their creativity, their opinions and experiences of the EU.
As we face into the challenges of the next decades, it is our youth who stand to gain most from our continued membership of the EU. It is therefore important that they be given the opportunity to engage with the EU throughout their educational experience.
European Movement Ireland CEO, Noelle O Connell said:
“MyEU50 presents a unique opportunity for young people to engage on all things Ireland and Europe as we mark 50 years of Ireland’s EU membership. I am certain that this competition will present new ideas and perspectives on our European relationship that will both inform its future and leave a legacy showing how young people view the relationship at this point in time. We are delighted to be working with the Government and the Department of Foreign Affairs to roll this competition out across the country.”
About the competition -
Primary level pupils are asked to get creative about the 26 other EU countries by picking a Member State sharing in the most colourful and creative way possible facts about that country. Post-primary level students are tasked to make a short 2-to-5-minute video news feature to explore how the EU affects their school and community.
The competition will focus on areas including life in other EU member states, what it’s like to work for the EU and the EU’s future direction.
Primary and Post-primary level students can submit their entries up until 28 October 2022. The third level competition will take place in early 2023.
More information can be found at www.myeu50.ie.
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Notes to Editor:
- To commemorate 50 years of Ireland’s EU membership in Ireland, we want to celebrate with young people across the nation, to see their creativity and new ideas about Ireland and Europe. ‘MyEU50: The Ireland EU50 Youth Competition’ will run over all three levels of education in Ireland; Primary, Post-Primary Level and Third Level.
- For Primary and Post-Primary Level, there is €2,000 for the winning entry per level!
- Finalists will be invited to attend an Exhibition Day in Dublin near the end of 2022, where they will get the opportunity to showcase their project to a live audience and some VIPs. During the Exhibition Day, 1 primary level finalist and 1 post-primary level finalist will be announced as the overall winners, receiving prizes worth €2,000.
- Primary Level Details: We are challenging primary level pupils to get creative about the 26 other EU countries. Pick a Member State based on facts files you can find on our website here, and in the most colourful and creative way possible, tell us a story about that country. You can tell your story with photos, a poster, a collage, a poem, a song, a short story, a dance, playing music, or even a comic strip!
- Post-Primary Level Details: We are challenging secondary level students to get creative by shining a spotlight on how the EU affects their school, or their community. Individual students, or a group of up to 6 students, are asked to put your journalist hats on and make a short 2-to-5-minute video ‘news feature’ to explore how the EU affects your school and community.
- Third Level details will be announced in early 2023.