Clonard student wins competition marking 50 years of EU membership
A Meath student has been named as the winner of the MyEU50 Third Level competition to mark 50 years of Ireland’s EU membership., the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Micheál Martin, has announced.
University College Dublin student Favour Ochonma from Clonard emerged as the winner for her speech titled ‘From Hope to Prosperity: Celebrating the EU’s 50-Year Impact on Ireland and Beyond’. Favour describes herself as a young woman who was born in Ireland to immigrant parents who found a new home in the European Union.
The Tánaiste said: “The MyEU50 youth competition gave students an opportunity to think about what being an EU citizen means to them. The creativity, experience, and opinions expressed by the students showed their appreciation of Ireland’s 50-year-old membership of the EU.
“An important objective of the competition has been to recognise young people’s voices and to interact with them about topics related to the European Union that are most important to them.
“The knowledge, self-assurance, and capacity of today's young people to influence change may surpass those of any preceding generation. Young people can make contributions to the dialogues taking place right now that will shape their future. Let us continue to work and push for progress and make the next 50 years as successful as the last.”
Ms Ochonma said: “This little girl, now 22 years old, has had a chance to achieve her dreams, reach her potential and fill her needs. Education protections and equality are rights the EU has so carefully worked with Ireland to protect.
“The EU has fought for refugee rights and anti-discrimination, a world where all are treated with equal consideration. This protection is offered to refugees now in the same way it was 22 years ago.”
CEO of European Movement Ireland Noelle O Connell said: “We were blown away by the range of entries we received. From podcasts on the rule of law to posters on equality & justice and speeches on the impact the EU has had on the youth of Ireland, we were highly impressed not only by the creativity of the entries but the level of research that went into each and every one.
“The entries demonstrated the students unique, emotive and personal relationship to the EU and their values.”
Over 5,000 pupils and students participated in the nationwide competition.