Seventeen year old Darragh Hynes wins top national award at Aldi Foróige Youth Citizenship Awards in Dublin

foroigeadmin April 22, 2018

Press release                                 22/04/2018

 

Seventeen year old Darragh Hynes wins top national award at Aldi Foróige Youth Citizenship Awards in Dublin

 

Teen is first individual to take the top prize for his hospice care fundraising initiative

 

Youth Driven Social Change celebrated by over 2,000 young people  

 

Darragh Hynes, aged 17, from Ratoath in Meath has been named the overall national winner at the Aldi Foróige Youth Citizenship Awards this weekend. His Citizenship Project, which raised money for St Francis Hospice through holding a culture night was chosen from over 200 community projects developed by young people.

This is the first time, since the Programme began in 1969, that an individual has won the top prize at the Awards. In that 49 years it has always been a group of young people, working together, to win. 

Darragh decided that he would raise funds for St. Francis Hospice, as it was a charity close to many in the community. Darragh, with the support of Ratoath Foróige Club, organised a culture night in the local village theatre. At the event people were encouraged to display talents in a non competitive atmosphere. Darragh contacted the hospice and sought permission to fundraise for them and they provided buckets and tshirts. Through ticket sales, raffle tickets and the bucket collection Darragh and the team raised €2,140 for St. Francis Hospice.

More than 2,000 young people, representing every county in Ireland, descended on the Citywest Conference Centre to celebrate and showcase their community action projects at the Awards. 200 youth groups took part, having worked on Citizenship Projects focused on improving the entrants’ local communities in areas such as equality, homelessness, inclusion, community events, mental health, culture and much more.

Seven projects received gold awards, five silver and eight bronze. Gold winning projects included Ballineen Foróige Agri Lads, which developed a new kill switch for tractors to enhance farm safety and Islandeady Senior Foróige Club, which promoted healthy eating through holding workshops and planting vegetables.

Commenting at the Awards, Seán Campbell, CEO of Foróige said: “The Aldi Foróige Youth Citizenship Awards programme is designed to empower young people across Ireland to use their skills and talents to make a positive contribution to their local community.”

“The programme involves young people researching the needs of their community, organising practical action in response, evaluating the effectiveness of their work and reflecting on what they’re learning along the way. The projects entered were all about solving social issues in the community for the community.”

“The standard of entry this year was exceptional and we are so proud of all those who took part and everything these young people have achieved in their communities.”

The Awards were opened by Minister of State for Equality, Immigration and Integration, David Stanton T.D. Today FM presenter Alison Curtis hosted and MC’d, while Seo Linn and DJ Claire Beck provided music throughout the day.

This year was the fourth year Aldi has partnered with Foróige to support the Awards, having recently agreed a new three-year €900,000 partnership extension with the youth organisation.

Commenting at the Awards, Finbar McCarthy, Group Buying Director with Aldi added: “Aldi’s commitment to Foróige is underlined by committing to another three year partnership. Every year we have attended the Awards the standard of Citizenship Project entry has improved and the dedication and passion of these young people is very humbling.” 

“We at Aldi are equally passionate about supporting local communities. In each of the communities served by our 130 stores across the 26 counties, we strive to act responsibly and to go above and beyond in our relationships with local residents, suppliers, as well as charity and not for profit organisations. Aldi’s Community Support Programme helps a diverse range of national and local intitiaves, benefiting communities in areas such as health and wellbeing, poverty, food waste and the environment, as well as youth citizenship. Every project here today serves as an important reminder that we all have the potential to be a good citizen, and that means action to bring about change for the better.”

 

For Further Information on Foróige Please Contact

Helena Clarke – Marketing & Communications Officer 01-6301732 / 087-6325138- [email protected]

About Foróige

Foróige is the leading youth organisation in Ireland. The charity works with over 50,000 young people and 5,500 adult volunteers annually, through a network of more than 650 youth clubs & cafés, 160 targeted projects and national programmes such as Entrepreneurship (NFTE), Health & Wellbeing, Citizenship and Entrepreneurship.   

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For Further Information on Aldi Please Contact
Joanne Byrne - Presence PR - 01-6761062/087- 2494 668  [email protected]

Aislinn O’Toole – Presence PR – 016761062/087-6193846  [email protected] 

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