An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Nobel Prize-Winner John Hume Pay Tribute to Wicklow Hero at Gala Dinner Ceremony

DUBLIN - Patrick Travers, 18, of Carnew, Co. Wicklow, was named one of the top two youth volunteers in all of Ireland last night in a ceremony here at the Burlington Hotel, capping the first year of The Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards.

Patrick was among 20 Finalists from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland who were honored at the event for outstanding volunteer service. Each of the Finalists, who were announced on the 12th of February, received a personal award of €500 and an engraved silver medallion from An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Henry McGarvey, managing director of Pramerica Systems Ireland.

Then, Nobel Prize-winner John Hume announced that a selection committee that he chaired had chosen Patrick as one of the programme’s two All-Ireland Youth Volunteers of the Year. He received additional awards of €500, an engraved gold medallion, a crystal trophy for his school, and a €1,000 grant for a charitable organisation of his choice. Both winners will be flown to Washington, D.C., in early May to take part in a gathering of top youth volunteers from several other countries.

The Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards, sponsored by Pramerica Systems Ireland in partnership with the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) and the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI), were introduced last fall to encourage youth volunteerism throughout the island of Ireland and to identify and reward young role models.

Patrick Travers, a sixth-year student at Colaiste Bhride, helped raise awareness and €7,500 to benefit impoverished people in Africa, and then traveled to Kenya with teachers and other students to see first-hand the living conditions there. After his school "adopted" a charity called Self Help International, Patrick wanted to find out more about poverty in Africa and what he could do to help. Soon after, Patrick began working to increase awareness of the plight of the poor in Africa, and to raise money to alleviate their poverty.

Patrick’s fund raising efforts encompassed a diverse number of activities and events involving many people and much organising. They included building a duck-race circuit, a "nonuniform day" at his school, and an end-of-school-term disco. Patrick’s energy and enthusiasm were recognised when he was awarded an elite achievement award at his school, and given the opportunity to travel with fellow students and teachers from schools across Ireland and Belgium to see how the money they raised was being spent. "This whole initiative has been a life changing experience for me," said Patrick. "I never realised the true extent of the poverty, deprivation and suffering." He now plans to return to Kenya this summer to work in local communities there.

"Patrick exemplifies the spirit of community that is so important to the future of our cities, towns and rural areas," said McGarvey of Pramerica Systems Ireland. "By honouring them, we hope not only to give them the recognition they so richly deserve, but also to inspire others to follow their example."

Also serving on the selection committee that chose the two All-Ireland Youth Volunteers of the Year were NAPD Director Mary McGlynn, GTCNI Registrar Eddie McArdle, Concern CEO Tom Arnold, and McGarvey of Pramerica.

"NAPD is delighted to be associated with the Spirit of Community programme," said McGlynn. "The role of school leadership includes encouraging students to engage in positive action beyond the classroom. Spirit of Community creates an excellent opportunity to do this. By instigating this scheme jointly with NAPD and GTCNI, Pramerica is creating valuable links between school leaders across the island of Ireland."

McArdle said "The Spirit of Community Awards recognises the positive contribution that many young people make to their local communities. The form of active citizenship which it promotes is a central feature of citizenship education in Northern Ireland's schools, which encourages young people to engage positively with their communities for their mutual benefit. In promoting this award, in partnership with GTCNI and NAPD, Pramerica is providing important recognition to young people and their schools."

Application forms for the awards programme were distributed last autumn through all post-primary and second-level schools in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. After 235 students were nominated by their school principals last November, 20 Finalists were selected in February, based on criteria such as personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth. The Finalists were all presented with Certificates of Achievement at their schools by officials of Pramerica, NAPD and GTCNI over the past month, and received further recognition at last night’s dinner.

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