Local schools compete at the 2016 Environmental Youth Speak competition

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council welcomed pupils from across the Council area to participate in the 2016 Environmental Youth Speak competition at Lagan Valley Island.

 

With the ultimate aim of reaching the grand final in March, the annual event saw twenty six pupils from eighteen primary and secondary schools confidently display their public speaking skills in front of a judging panel of Council representatives. 

 

Organised by the Council’s Waste Management Section, the aim of the competition is to encourage environmental awareness among young people by providing them with an opportunity to research and debate environmental issues.  The event was categorised into a junior section (P6 and P7 pupils) and senior section (Year 8 to Year 10 pupils), with this year’s themes being: ‘The Adventures of a Waste Warrior’ and ‘Let’s Send Our Waste to a Better Place’.

 

Speaking at the province-wide event, the Chairman of the Council’s Environmental Services Committee, Councillor Brian Hanvey said: “I am delighted to have the pleasure today of judging the first Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council heat of the Environmental Youth Speak competition 2016. The competition has been running over eighteen years now, and has witnessed pupils from both former councils win the overall competition in the junior section for the past two years. I am very confident that we have a potential winner among us today again.

 

“Protecting the environment is an important role for every citizen, it is heartening to hear the pupils talk so passionately about waste reduction and recycling. I hope their speeches can influence their class mates, friends and family.

 

“I was particularly impressed with the high level of professionalism displayed and it was very clear to me that a great deal of preparation and research went into each presentation. Public speaking is not an easy task at all and nervousness often creeps in, but I must say you all did a fantastic job and I have no doubt that your parents and teachers are extremely proud of your achievements today.”

 

All the participants at the Lisburn and Castlereagh heat received a certificate and an environmentally friendly goodie bag with Councillor Hanvey announcing the heat winners.

 

Councillor Hanvey said: "The panel had a particularly difficult time judging the two age categories due to the high level of public speaking displayed. It gives me great pleasure to congratulate the heat winners Josh Kamalarajah and Max Kamalarajah of Riverdale Primary School Lisburn in the Junior Section and Katie Monteith and Scott Boomer of Friends School Lisburn in the Senior Section. On behalf of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, I would like to wish them every success in the grand final on Tuesday 8th March at Mossley Mill, Newtownabbey.

 

“Finally, I would like to sincerely thank John Kelly from the Council’s Waste Management Section for organising the event and liaising with the schools involved.  It takes a lot of time and planning to bring an event like this together and without the work of such dedicated council officers it simply would not happen.” concluded Councillor Hanvey.

 

The competition enables the Council to encourage and develop communication skills and self-confidence of young people and help raise awareness of environmental sustainability within the classroom.

 

If you would like more information on how schools can take part in the 2017 Environmental Youth Speak competition, please contact the Council’s Waste Management Section on 028 9250 9453.

 

 

 

Chairman of the Council’s Environmental Services Committee, Councillor Brian Hanvey is pictured with the winners of the Junior Section, Josh Kamalarajah and Max Kamalarajah of Riverdale Primary School Lisburn at the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council heat of the Environmental Youth Speak competition 2016, 

 

 

Pictured with the Chairman of the Council’s Environmental Services Committee, Councillor Brian Hanvey are the winners of the Senior Section at the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council heat of the Environmental Youth Speak competition 2016, Scott Boomer and Katie Monteith of Friends School Lisburn.

 

 

Chairman of the Council’s Environmental Services Committee, Councillor Brian Hanvey and Director of Environmental Services, Heather Moore welcomed pupils from primary and secondary schools across the Council area to compete at the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council heat of the Environmental Youth Speak competition 2016.