The District Final of Lions International Youth Award-Young Ambassador took place on Saturday 15th January, 2011 in the Clarion Hotel Liffey Valley, Dublin.

The aim of the competition, which operates throughout Europe, is to recognise, encourage and support young people who are actively involved in the welfare of the community, supporting the best of our Lions’ ideals.

Candidates were interviewed on their previous community involvement, interview skills, public speaking and the proposed use of a bursary to assist in a nominated charity or social concept. There was six finalist from across both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (District 105-I).

The Judges, Mr. David Walsh, Ms. Michelle Crowley and Ms. Kate Prendiville were very impressed by the excellent standard of every candidate.

At the results ceremony, Judge Kate Prendiville said:

1. in a competition like this one where although there can only be one winner that we the judges feel that it is vital that these incredible youths continue with the amazing work they are continually performing in each and every one of there home town/communities & that they realise that this competition is not the end of their idea for community improvement it is only the beginning.

2. That if one was to believe popular opinion one would believe the youth of modern Ireland today are a mix of young people who are an unruly group, willing to take without giving anything in return. Evidently, this competition proves quite the opposite and is the perfect proof that the aforementioned stereotype describes the minority rather then the majority of Irish teenagers. These 6 young people really instil hope for the future of our county.

3. Often young people feel that there is a limit to the level of change they can bring about within their community however they must not under estimate the importance of fresh eyes when looking at the everyday problems that affect the people surrounding them.

4. When it comes to youth helping the other young people in their area it is clear that these 6 exceptional people understand that certain amenities are best run by young people( with the right level of supervision) . Often a young person would be too intimidated to approach an adult with a problem where as a peer might be exactly the right person to help with any given problem.

5. These people are a sample of everything this country should be proud of.
 
Mr. Sean Sanfdord, Vice District Governor of District 105-I thanked all those who were involved in the organisation of the  Award and presented individual crystal plaques’ to all candidates who reached the finals after though competition in both Club and Regional heats earlier in the year.

Mr. Sean O’Brien, last years winner, who went on to win the European segment of the Award at the Europa Forum, was also in attendance and offered some great words of encouragement to both the candidates and the audience.

Mr. Cian Cotter, the District Officer charged with running Youth Award thanked all those at the local and regional level who assist in making the Award a success. In particular he thanked all three Judges, who dedicated not only their Saturday but many hours before it, examining the applications forms and preparing challenging questions for the candidates in the interview stage.

In the end there could be only one winner and this year it was awarded to Leanne O’Driscoll, nominated by Tralee Lions Club, Co. Kerry. Leanne received the Tommy Byrne Perpetual Trophy and a bursary of €550 to help towards the advancement of her community concept.

Leanne’s community involvement truly impressed all three judges. Leanne is a junior leader with Springboard, a disadvantages children’s project; Youth advisory panel member of Jigsaw which promotes mental health and a founding member and Chairperson of her school branch of Amnesty International, just to name a few.

Leanne is an Action Lesotho Young Volunteer and assists in the co-ordination of the schools programme for the Keyhole Garden Project. She impressed the judges with her plan to use the bursary to assist Action Lesotho Keyhole Garden Project, which aims to improve Lesotho’s (Southern Africa) two biggest problem; Aids and malnutrition. Leanne explained to the judges that although some anti viral medication is available to the urban population of Lesotho who have contracted the deadly virus (on average some 50%) unfortunately the medication is of little benefit if not administered with the necessary nutritional supplements to absorb the medication.

In effect, many suffers are unable to attend to basic farming duties that would normally provide subsistence food supplies. The keyhole gardening concept designs and provides raised garden beds which had be easily accessed and maintained by aids sufferers. The gardens are supplemented with six chickens per unit to provide eggs with much needed protein. The Bursary provided by Lions International District 105-I should fund between 5 and 6 Keyhole Gardens.

Leanne will now go forward to the next round and represent the Lions in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland at the Multiple District Final which will be held on the 25th February in Birmingham, United Kingdom. We wish Leanne every success in the next stage and offer our congratulations to all who have participated in the Youth Award-Young Ambassador Programme.

Lion Cian Cotter
District Officer – 105-I – Youth Award-Young Ambassador