Over 150 Cork youths were honoured at a presentation yesterday at the Cork Training Centre for their participation in the We are Cork Youth Challenge, a Cork Education and Training Board initiative devised to help students hone their creative skills and talents during the pandemic through a series of fun virtual challenges and tasks.

Modelled on the Gaisce award, young people chose their challenges from a series of positive activities including music, sport, and active citizenship within their communities.

All participants who completed 20 challenges received the ‘We Are Cork’ Lord Mayor and County Mayor of Cork Medal.

Recently elected Lord Mayor of Cork City Cllr. Colm Kelleher was on hand to present the awards to students, and he said the challenge had created a brilliant opportunity for young people in Cork to express themselves and explore their creative talents and abilities during a difficult year.

He said:

The We Are Cork Challenge creates positive opportunities for young people to express themselves, showcasing what they do well, while also learning and trying new skills. There is no doubt that this pandemic has created huge challenges for us all, but most of all for our young people. We commend the way they have dealt with the last 15 months and we congratulate them all for participating in this campaign.”

Mayor of County Cork Cllr. Mary Linehan Foley also paid tribute to participating students, adding:

It’s a terrific way for organisations to collaborate to present a unique opportunity for young people. It has been wonderful to see how creative and inventive our young people are in a time which has been particularly tough on them.

Chief Executive of Cork ETB, Denis Leamy, who is Chair of the City Council Youth Committee added that youth participation within their communities was crucial as he commended them for embracing the challenges head on. 

He said:

Young people are critical actors in our communities, it is imperative that we rise to the challenge, to give them every opportunity to stay connected, ensuring a pride of place and hope for the future. It can be said without doubt that these young people truly embraced the We Are Cork youth Challenge and I wish to congratulate them all on their participation.

The ‘We Are Cork’ challenge is one of a series of events for young people this summer organised by Cork ETB in conjunction with other partners.

Over 500 young people are engaging in the urban outdoors initiative, kayaking and paddle boarding on the River Lee, while many more will get the opportunity to engage in the summer soccer on the green series.

Through coordinated efforts with Cork ETB, Cork Sports Partnership, Music Generation Cork City, with support from both Cork City Council and Cork County Council, it has been a great week for young people with Music Generation Cork City announced as beneficiaries of the RTE Toy Show Appeal receiving an investment of €100k. 

For more on Cork Education and Training Board see www.corketb.ie, or CorkETB on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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