Ursuline girls excel in Foróige competition
A SLIGO student has won a national award for innovation and is now going on to represent Ireland at a European level. Fiona Karkia, age 17, from Ursuline College in Sligo, who designed a contactless traffic light system for pedestrians, won the Best Innovation category in this year’s Foróige Youth Entrepreneur of the Year competition.
Two other students at the school, Anna Clarke and Anna Callaghan, also made the national final.
The competition celebrates young people who have participated in the NFTE Youth Entrepreneurship Programme in their schools, youth projects or alternative education providers.
The competition attracted over 5,000 young entrepreneurs throughout Ireland who competited through a series of local, county and regional finals with the best going to throught to the national final. Fiona used BBC micro bit technology and PIR motion sensors to create her contactless traffic light system for pedestrians.
Her inspiration came in the early stages of Covid-19 when she was out walking and felt there had to be a better and safer way than pressing a pedestrian button at traffic lights.
She felt that with countless people per day pressing the same button to activate the green light this facilitated the spread of infections.
She will now bring her idea to the next level as she will go to Switzerland and represent Ireland at the European Youth Entrepreneur Awards.
Speaking about her win, she said: “I’m in shock, but I feel incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to take part in the NFTE programme.
“Over the last year I’ve learned about enterprise and I’ve learned loads about myself and what I’m capable of.
“I’ve been able to channel my creativity in such a positive way to benefit my community during this challenging time. It’s a huge achievement and you know what, I’m feeling very proud of myself,” she said.
Another Ursuline entry in the competition from “The 2 Annas”, Anna Clarke and Anna Callaghan, both Transition years, also secured a place in the top 9 national finalists.
The 2 Annas created a colourful enterprise making homemade face masks made from sustainable materials.
Tadhg O’Brien, age 17, from Co. Louth, won the overall title of Foróige Youth Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 with his business called Scriptorium Pens.
Séan Campbell, CEO of Foróige, said “We’re so proud of the young entrepreneurs who have participated in the NFTE Youth Entrepreneurship Programme this year.
“So much of what we do in this programme is about encouraging young people to be brave, take a leap of faith and back themselves and their abilities.
“It’s remarkable for a teenager to start a business at any time, but to do it in the midst of a global pandemic is something quite extraordinary.
“Even in our most uncertain times these young entrepreneurs are thriving, turning adversity into opportunity and turning their street smarts into business smarts.”