Big night for local students at Garda Youth Awards
There was strong local representation at this year’s North Cork Garda Youth Awards as local ladies brought home the accolades. Both Ava McKenna and the YSI Period Poverty Group were recognised for their work at last Thursday's award ceremony in Charleville, and all recipients are students at Loreto Secondary School, Fermoy, writes Marian Roche.
Ava McKenna from Glenville won an award in the Individual category for her work with the Cope Foundation, while her schoolmates won a group award for their project tackling Period Poverty.
INDIVIDUAL WINNER AVA McKENNA
Ms McKenna was nominated by two of her teachers in Loreto Secondary School for her volunteer work with The Cope Foundation. Ava volunteers with the Ability Board within Cope, and Daragh Forde, job coach at Cope Foundation said that Ava’s contribution has been immense.
“Ava has shown so much dedication to this job, and now we don’t know what we did before she worked with us! She organises all of the Ability Board calendars and sends e-mails, texts and co-ordinates Zoom meetings to facilitate the smooth running of the board’s activities. Ava has also been involved in their very first paid contract with Social Impact Ireland. She even comes to events and meetings on her mid-term breaks and days off. She has a great work ethic and has a wonderful way with all members of the Ability Board.”
Ms McKenna said she was delighted to received the award, and thanked those who supported her.
“It was such an honour to receive the Garda Youth Award and attend an event where I was able to hear one of my idols, Joanne O’Riordan, give the keynote speech. I was surrounded by people who I couldn’t have done this without, my parents, my teacher Liam O’Donoghue and most importantly, Daragh Forde.
“I’ve met an amazing group of people while working with Cope, and I will never not be grateful for the opportunity of getting to work alongside them. “
One of Ava’s nominating teachers Jill Gubbins said; “Ava’s work in helping people with intellectual disabilities to find work is a clear indication of the values of freedom and justice.
Everyone deserves to have the opportunity to work, and Ava’s role highlights that young people throughout her community care and recognise this, and are willing to take action and make it happen.”
GROUP AWARD
Fellow Loreto students Daria Cretu, Sarah Murphy-McCarthy, Tara O’Keeffe, Emilia Olewska, Aisling O’Sullivan, Brianna Patel, Nefeli Pyrvolaki and Ellen Sjaberg scooped an award for their work on a Young Social Innovators project on Period Poverty. The girls’ research led them to conclude that for many women, purchasing period products is a struggle and an ‘unnecessary financial strain, even for students in their own school’.
The ‘YSI Period Poverty Group’, as they were named, set about fundraising and creating awareness around this issue, securing sponsorship from Lidl for two dispensers in their school so that students could access free period products without shame, stigma or cost. They lobbied local councillors to put a dispenser with free products in the local public toilets, and it is hoped that this initiative may be progressed in the future. The group also engaged with homeless services, and have provided period products to the service users at Cork Simon Community.
TY year head Aoife Hennessy attended the awards evening, and she described being immensely proud of and humbled by the award recipients. All at Loreto Secondary School in Fermoy were delighted to hear of the individual and group awards going to members of the school community.
GARDA CENTENARY AWARD
On Thursday a special Garda Centenary Award was presented to Killeagh’s Adam King for his fundraising work and for spreading a positive message of love and kindness.
The awards were held in the Charleville Park Hotel and celebrate the achievements of young people who go above and beyond to make a positive contribution to their community and recognises commitment. Guests were welcomed to the event by Chief Superintendent Con Cadogan of Fermoy, and was assisted in his presentations by Pat McDonagh, owner of event sponsors Supermac’s.