Irish Aid is the Government of Ireland’s international development programme which aims to reduce global poverty, hunger and
humanitarian need. Support is provided to more than 130 countries. We work with governments, the United Nations and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) such as Trócaire in these countries to improve people’s lives and combat hunger and poverty. We also work with a small number of countries affected by conflict such as Liberia, Palestine, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

The Our World Irish Aid Awards gives you the chance to learn more about the developing world and to speak out for a better future for all the world’s people.

This year’s theme, Food for Life, invites pupils to learn about the Global Goals and how Irish Aid, the government’s overseas development cooperation programme, is working hard to fight world hunger and poverty on behalf of all the people of Ireland. Using our Food for Life magazine and accompanying lesson plans, you can work on a creative piece showcasing what you learned or what inspired you. You can use writing, artwork, music or film and submit your work for a chance to feature in our Global Goal Getters online multi-media magazine, by kids, for kids. 

We also want you to share your ideas and information with your friends and family at school and at home! Everyone in the world, including you, has an important role to play in fighting for gender equality and creating a better world. Taking part in the Awards is a good place to start. Are you and your class up to the challenge?

193 countries of the United Nations, including Ireland, are working together to create a better world and a better future for all by 2030, through the Global Goals for Sustainable Development, which were agreed in September 2015, with Ireland taking a leading role in negotiations. These Goals, which build on the achievements of the previous UN Millennium Development Goals, seek to bring about a better future for children everywhere and for future generations.

The 17 Global Goals are as follows (simplified wording):

1. End poverty
2. End hunger
3. Make sure everyone can live healthy lives
4. Make sure everyone gets a good education
5. Make sure that women and girls get the same chances as men and boys
6. Make sure that everyone has access to clean water and proper toilets
7. Make sure that everyone has enough heat, light and power without damaging the environment
8. Help countries to develop and provide good jobs in a way that benefits everyone
9. Build schools, hospitals and roads, and promote creative businesses and industries, that make the people’s lives better
10. Make sure that everyone is treated fairly and that countries treat each other fairly
11. Make cities environmentally friendly and safe communities where people can live well
12. Make sure we only buy or use what we need so that we do not use up the Earth’s scarce resources
13. Act now to fight climate change
14. Look after the life in our oceans and seas
15. Look after forests, animals and the earth itself
16. Work for peace and justice inside and between countries
17. Countries will work together as partners to achieve the Global Goals and make the world a better place for everyone

• The theme this year is ‘Food for Life’. 

Yes! The lesson plans on the Awards website have been written to provide pupils with learning opportunities directly related to the primary curriculum, including:

Curriculum Areas Republic of Ireland: Languages, Social, Personal & Health Education, Arts Education, Social, Environmental & Scientific Education, Religious/Ethical Education, Literacy & Numeracy.

Areas of Learning Northern Ireland: Language & Literacy, Mathematics & Numeracy, Personal Development & Mutual Understanding, The Arts, The World Around Us, Religious Education.

Yes. You can either call our dedicated hotline number on 01 522 4834 and one of our team will be more than happy to help you. Or, you can send in your query via email to [email protected]

• Taking part will help pupils learn about wider world issues and will provide them with learning opportunities directly related to the primary curriculum. Through the teaching and learning support materials, pupils are provided with current information on developing countries, and encouraged to develop their own ideas while using a range of analytical and communication skills to create their entry.

• In addition, pupils will have fun using their creativity to present their pieces in a wide range of media formats (music, art, writing, new media, etc.) and enjoy sharing what they have learnt in our online Global Goal Getters magazine.

• Pupils who submit an entry to the Our World Irish Aid Awards are in with a chance to feature in one of three Global Goal Getters digital magazines, and if their piece is selected, will be invited to our National Final Ceremony. It’s an opportunity for students to have their work recognised and their achievements celebrated. As part of our ceremony, students (and teachers too!) will be awarded prizes and certificates!

• Most teachers explore the issues through using the information in our curriculum-linked  lesson plans and activity-packed magazine. This year’s theme is: Food for Life. You can then discuss with your pupils which topic(s) to focus on (Irish Aid, the Global Goals, or the magazine theme) and how to present their knowledge and ideas as a creative piece for the children’s Global Goal Getters magazine. 

• Pupils can work on their project individually, in pairs, small groups or even as a whole class.

• We’ve created interactive magazine templates to inspire students to design, write and edit their own magazine page or whole magazine. Students can get creative and submit their finished pieces to us for inclusion in the next issue of the Global Goal Getters magazine.

• The first issue of our Global Goal Getters magazine will be released in February 2024, and will include submissions entered before 19th January 2024. All entries received on or before 19th January will be in with a chance to win a box of sustainable art materials!

• Submissions will remain open and ongoing for the next issues of the Global Goal Getters through 8th March 2024, so there’s plenty of time to get creative!

• Submit your pieces, along with a completed entry form via post or email to: Our World Irish Aid Awards, Real Nation, 94 Baggot Street Lower, Dublin 2 | Email: [email protected]

• The creative piece can take any number of forms and, because the Global Goal Getters is an online magazine, we can accept multi-media pieces like video clips and recordings.

• Your pupils can showcase their learning through a number of ways: writing an article, poem, song, rap; creating drawings, paintings, infographics; video clips of drama performances or advertisements; photographs of their 3D artwork, murals and more! All ideas are welcome!

• Pupils can also use our interactive magazine template to create, design, write and edit their own magazine page or whole magazine.

• If pupils complete any large pieces of work, such as 3D models, large murals, posters, artwork etc., you may photograph their work and send us high resolution images.

Please note: It is important to make sure that you complete an Entry Form with a signature and accepted terms and conditions. Remember to clearly label pupils’ work.

The classroom resources and At Home Learning activities provided on this website provide step-by-step lesson plans for teachers, with supporting worksheets and background information, which are adequate for participation in the Awards.

However, the following publications and websites also have a wonderful range of ideas, resources and materials presented in teacher-friendly and child-friendly interactive style:

• One World, Our World Storybook for 10-12 year olds on 5 of Irish Aid’s partner countries. Available free from Irish Aid [PDF]
• Concern’s Development Education primary-school resources 
• Development and Intercultural Education Matters! – A practical guide from the primary classroom is a DVD created by the DICE Project and INTO learning exploring good practice for development and intercultural education. Contact [email protected] to request a copy.
• Me, You, Everyone (2006) Amnesty International Irish Section.
• Oxfam UK has excellent materials, free to download on: http://www.oxfam.org.uk/education/resources
• It is also worth checking out: www.developmenteducation.ie for additional primary classroom resources.

• Christian Aid
• Concern Worldwide
• Goal
• Trócaire
• UNICEF
• Poetry Ireland
• Waterford One World Centre
• Fairtrade Mark Ireland
• Bóthar