Minister joins Portlaoise pupils to launch Our World Awards for 2025 

MINISTER of state Seán Fleming joined pupils at Portlaoise Educate Together National School to launch the 2025 Our World Awards.

This year, pupils will be celebrating 20 years of the awards with a renewed focus on how Ireland and 192 other countries are working together to create a safer, fairer world through the 17 UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

The pupils will learn about the lives of children and their families in northern Mozambique, Somalia and The Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Over their 20-year history, the awards funded by Irish Aid have become one of the most prestigious primary school programmes in Ireland. Central to the awards is a suite of specially created curriculum-linked teaching and learning materials to make participating as easy and as enjoyable as possible for both teachers and their pupils. These materials are available in English and as Gaeilge, in print and digital format.

Inviting primary school pupils to take part, minister Fleming said: “Each and every one of us has a role to play in Ireland’s contribution towards meeting the Global Goals, no matter how young or old we are. The part we play in achieving these goals will have a positive impact on the life of every citizen on this planet. However, the biggest life-changing impact will be seen among the most vulnerable and especially those who live in developing countries.

“As the minister of state responsible for international development, I continue to be enormously encouraged by the level of engagement in this awards programme and by the willingness of our teachers and young people to play an active part in the international effort to transform our world.” The Our World Awards is also hosting two webinars for teachers to encourage them to take part and provide advice on incorporating the awards into classroom teaching plans. These will take place in October and November.

Schools are invited to express their ideas and understanding of the issues in writing, song, film, artwork or another medium of their choosing.

All entries will be assessed on their creativity, understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals and the work of Irish Aid. The top entries will win a place at the national final awards ceremony, which will take place in Dublin Castle on Thursday 22 May 2025.

The closing date for submissions is Friday 28 March 2025.