Young Citizens Award

Kildare County Council wants final nominations for the county element of the Young Citizens Award, which has been endorsed and will be presented by President Mary McAleese.

The entries will be coordinated and assessed through the Kildare County Development Board, and closing date for nominations is 19 December.

The award is associated with the European Year of Citizenship through Education 2005.

It is open to young people between the ages of 12 and 25 years who are participating in formal (school) or non-formal (youth organisations and clubs) education.

To qualify, young people should be involved in voluntary active citizenship initiatives. A person or group can nominate him or herself, or be nominated by someone else.

Examples of initiatives that will be considered ‘active citizenship’ are: -
Environmental work like litter prevention, recycling;
Caring for older peoples or people with disabilities/special needs, Special Olympics;
Cross-Border or Community Peace Work;
Global Development / Support for Developing Countries;
Celebrating Diversity in your community;
Improvement of Environment such as School, community;
Living and Embracing Citizenship (participating in democratic structures such as Student Councils, Youth Councils or Comhairle na n’Og.

All nominations that met the criteria set by the National Steering Committee of the Young Citizen Award will receive a certificate signed by President Mary McAleese.

Everyone who receives a certificate will be entered into a lottery for a chance to attend a special event in Aras an Uachtarain, where they will meet the President and be presented with a specially designed pin to mark the 2005 European Year of Citizenship through Education.

All applications should be forwarded by post to Department of Community & Enterprise, Kildare County Council, St Mary’s, Naas, Co Kildare. Further information including application form can be downloaded.

Brian Byrne.