Mischa Bogue, a student at Our Lady’s Secondary School, emerged victorious as one of the winners of the esteemed ActionTalks’ regional speech writing competition. Mischa’s exceptional talent and flair in this area also allowed her to compete in the national finals held in Dublin on March 20th.
The ActionTalks competition, now in its landmark tenth year, serves as a platform for students nationwide to delve into pressing global social justice issues. This year, participants tackled themes ranging from the climate crisis to gender-based violence and unpaid care work. This prestigious competition is made possible through the support of Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs, as part of a women’s rights program in Kenya, Nepal, and Ethiopia. This year ActionAid received 112 entries from 20 schools across 12 counties.
Speaking at the school during the week Principal Mr. Kelly congratulated Mischa on her achievement, stating, "Mischa's success in the regional speech writing competition is a testament to her wonderful talent and ability. We are delighted to see Mischa is making the most of her Transition Year experience and the many and varied opportunities available to her. We are immensely proud that Mischa had the opportunity to showcase her flair in this area on the national stage.’’
CEO of ActionAid Ireland Karol Balfe said: “We’re delighted to give young people an opportunity to research global issues and to speak out on topics that they care about. Ireland plays an important role internationally, both in its aid programmes funded by Irish taxpayers and its influence at EU and international level on key policy issues. It’s fantastic to see so many young people engage with important global topics like climate justice and gender equality. It was very difficult choosing the winners of the regional final, as it was so clear how much effort young people put in. Mischa’s speech on the topic of gender-based violence was well researched, well-crafted and delivered with panache.”
Photograph: Transition Year student Mischa Bogue pictured after her success in the Regional Final of the ActionTalks Speech Writing Competition.
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