Ratoath teens crowned winners of youth citizenship award
Ratoath Foróige Club were crowned winners of this year's Foróige Youth Citizenship Awards at a special event in Dublin Castle last Wednesday, 29th October.
The group was presented with the Michael B Cleary Perpetual Trophy by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr James Reilly, at the awards ceremony.
Inspired by research into what their community needed, the group found that there were no safe walking routes in the area and set about creating a 4km Slí na Slainte looped walk in Ratoath, complete with bespoke signage and lighting.
The 'Path to Health' community enhancement project pipped seven other projects shortlisted from those submitted by over 12,000 Foróige members from around the country.
Ciara Fennessy of Ratoath Foróige Club said: 'We're thrilled to be crowned Youth Citizenship Award winners. We wanted to promote physical fitness in our village, all while bringing our community together.'
Community involvement was a key aspect, she said, with the group holding consultations with local schools and businesses about what was needed for Ratoath.
The group raised €3,000 for signage, printing and a mapboard of the walk by asking local businesses to sponsor the project. They also met with a local historian, who helped the group earmark historical points of interest along the route.
'We wanted to create a lasting legacy in our village that could be enjoyed for years to come, and I think we achieved that,' added Ciara.
Speaking at the Foróige Youth Citizenship Awards, Foróige CEO Seán Campbell said: 'This project is deserving of the Foróige Youth Citizenship Award title. The group researched the needs of their village and created a simple yet effective and engaging project that has benefited their community greatly.'
He added: 'That's what our citizenship programme is all about, empowering young people to make the change themselves. It’s truly inspiring to watch teenagers strive to make their communities and their world a better place to live.'