Young people receive silver Gaisce Awards
By William O'Connor
The President’s Award held a special Gaisce Silver Award ceremony in Griffith College Conference Centre to celebrate the achievements of young people from across Dublin.
26 young people from all over Dublin were presented with their Gaisce Silver Award on the night.
Cian Brennan and Daniel Kelly from Citywise with Gaisce CEO Yvonne McKenna
Young people honoured during the ceremony completed their Silver award through their local school or club.
Organisations who supported the awardees were Colaiste Cois Life, Lucan, Colaiste Bríde, Clondalkin, Rosemont School, Sandyford and Rockbrook Park School, Rathfarnham.
A total of 43 young people were awarded on the night.
Gaisce Gold Awardee Lucy McGill and Dublin native gave a speech encouraging Silver Awardees to continue their Gaisce Journey and undertake the Gold Award.
Silver awardees who were honoured on the night have successfully completed at least 26 weeks across three different challenge areas and undertaken a 3-day adventure journey. The adventure journey incorporates either a 50km walk or a 190km cycle.
Yvonne McKenna, CEO Gaisce added: “I heartily congratulate the awardees on their achievement. Completing a Silver Gaisce Award is no easy feat and each and every one of them has dedicated significant time and effort towards developing skills, helping in their communities, becoming more active and exploring their sense of adventure.
We are delighted to celebrate their achievements and the dedication of their wonderful President’s Award Leaders who are the lifeblood of the Gaisce programme. The awardees aren’t only incredible ambassadors for Gaisce, but also their families and communities.”
The President’s Award is a self-development programme for young people between the ages of 15-25, which is proven to enhance confidence and wellbeing through participation in personal, physical, community and team challenges. It is a direct challenge from the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, to all young people to dream big and realise their potential.
Since its inception in 1985, over 300,000 young people have participated in the Gaisce programme.
Today, more than 24,000 young people register for the Gaisce challenge each year, pursuing the award through more than 800 organisations (Gaisce Award Partners) located right across the country. Gaisce supports these organisations and the more than 1,200 President Award Leaders (PALs) working and volunteering in them to mentor young people through their Gaisce journey.
Gaisce celebrates the individuality of each participant and ensures that, while there are many pathways to achieving a Gaisce Award, each Gaisce journey is as unique and expansive as the individual young person determines, and all Awards are equally recognised.
