Creative Competition reaches conclusion

At the time of writing, judges are still undecided about the Creative Competition awards, which are due to take place this Wednesday at the AVIVA stadium.  Dozens of schools, youthreach centres youth services and other centres of learning will be converging on the AVIVA stadium for the awards ceremony.  As well as groups from Dublin, there are groups from Cork, Limerick, Leitrim, Monaghan, Meath and Kildare who will be there.Some excellent work was done at schools and services throughout the country.  It is so heartening that not only was there great quality of work through the entries created but that the impact went beyond the school/ service and into the local community. Furthermore it was great to hear ‘the kids really enjoyed it’ yet at the same time they worked to address a serious issue.The title of the competition ‘Creative Competition’ is purposely to encourage creativity because as the world becomes  more complex, the challenges demand creative and imaginative responses.Some of the audiovisual entries are already online atSome excellent work was done at schools and services throughout the country.  It is so heartening that not only was there great quality of work through the entries created but that the impact went beyond the school/ service and into the local community. Furthermore it was great to hear ‘the kids really enjoyed it’ yet at the same time they worked to address a serious issue.The title of the competition ‘Creative Competition’ is purposely to encourage creativity because as the world becomes  more complex, the challenges demand creative and imaginative responses.  Creativity is testing for those involved.Some of the audiovisual entries are already online at www.youtube.com/theredcardire There are some incredibly talented young people in Ireland from the girls are Our Lady of Mercy who made their own film to the boys and girls at Castaheany Educate Together who made their own version of the Gangnam style song but with anti-racism lyrics.  Some of the entries demonstrate particular talents for example with Poppintree Youth Project in film making and Scoil Brid Naomh in mosaics.Pupils at some schools such as Mullingar Educate Together and Colaiste an Craobhain got their whole schools involved, while Plas Mhuire Boys National School and Scoil Brid Naofa developed very strong entries over the course of months.  Other schools such as Scoil Choilm and Blakestown Community School made use of our our mascot ‘Jeff the Ref’ in bringing their anti racism message to the school and community.Organisers of the Creative Competition are keen to build on the experience.  While the numbers involved have increased over the four years since 2010, Show Racism the Red Card is open to ideas as to how to increase the breadth and depth of the programme in years to come.All those who participated in the Competition will be receiving a free new copy of the updated Show Racism the Red Card education pack.  This is in appreciation of the support f teachers and others in education in driving the anti racism message.  It is hoped that he new education pack will be a valued resource in education over the next three years.The education pack is closely related with competition says Co-ordinator Garrett Mullan: ‘The new pack includes work from Scoil Naomh Brid, Blakestown Community School, St Eunans National School because we value the work that is being done but also they show what is possible in any school and the point of education pack is that it is a quality resource to be used in any education environment’.Meanwhile it has been confirmed that International Soccer legend and Ireland’s third most capped player Kevin Kilbane will be among the special guests attending the awards ceremony.Adam & Eve mosaic produced by Scoil Naomh Brid- message is we are all the same from the beginningPlas Mhuire BNS many different countries in one happy schoolColaiste an Craobháin pupils in front of their displayScoil Choilm display board