Creative Competition update – Report from Awards 2016

YOUNG ACTIVISTS: Sara Codrea, St Brigits, Killester; Scott Hewitt, St Matthews, Ballymahon, Co Longford; Naomi Nene, CBS Dundalk; Rachel Morris, Eureka, Kells and Abdul Ajayi, Colaiste Pobail Setanta, Ongar, were among 600 young people to attend Show Racism the Red Card’s annual awards. Photograph: Nick BradshawThe Show Racism the Red Card Creative Competition awards showcase took place this Wednesday 11th May at the AVIVA stadium.  The event was attend by more than 600 young people from schools and youth services from around Ireland.Young people from primary and secondary schools, youth services and youthreach centres were involved in developing their messages about racism.  At the event, there were presentations including the Show Racism the Red Card DVD and also videos from Rosemount Secondary, Youthreach Progression Navan, Loreto Fermoy, Schull Community School, Attic Youth Project Longford and performances from Athlone Community College, Eureka Secondary School, Maria Immaculata Community College and Patrick O’ Reilly from Foroige Cork.At the event, Show Racism the Red Card Chairperson Martina Quinn highlighted the importance of the message, particularly in the context of recent racist attacks against Afghan family in Dublin and the broader context of the refugee crisis internationally.  Shining a light on this was Syrian journalist with Storyful Razan Ibraheem.  Razan spoke of her experience having left Syria and moved to Ireland but said that so many more people need  Ireland’s help.Show Racism the Red Card also stated that with the formation of the new government it was vital that a Minister for Integration and Combating Racism be established so as to respond and focus on these issues which present many challenges.

Show Racism the Red Card Highlight Need for Government to Combat RacismThe new Government must prioritise integration and funding for anti-racism measures. That’s according to Show Racism the Red Card (SRTRC), an anti-racism charity that use sports and the high profile of sportspeople to tackle racism.Speaking at their annual creative competition awards ceremony today (11.05.2016) in Dublin, Garrett Mullan, Executive Director of Show Racism the Red Card called on the Government to put in place a Minister of State with specific responsibility for tackling racism and promoting integration.Mr Mullan said, “The last Government chose not to appoint a Minister of State with specific responsibility for tackling racism and promoting integration and urge new Government not to make the same mistake. Both domestically and internationally, there are a range of factors at play that are fuelling racist and far-right extremist views. A Minister for Integration has never been more needed.“Just last week, four members of an Afghan family were assaulted in a racially motivated attack in Rathfarnham, Dublin. A 13-year-old boy was left with cuts and bruises. There is growing Islamphobia internationally fuelled – in part – by dangerous rhetoric from US presidential candidates. This week, there was negative reaction in some quarters on the election to the new Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. Closer to home, members of the Travelling community continue to suffer discrimination as can be seen in the aftermath of the tragedy in Carrickmines.“This is not a time to stand by and allow these divisive views to become entrenched. It is imperative that the new Government demonstrates a commitment to tackling such views and establishes structures and funding to promote anti-racism and integration measures.”Creative CompetitionSix hundred young people from youth groups, youthreach services, primary and secondary schools attended the annual Creative Competition awards ceremony. The competition called on young people to develop creative messages about racism and integration using written, visual and audiovisual means and prizes were awarded for entries ranging from songs and raps to posters, videos and social media campaigns.Cork had particular success with Schull Community College winning the overall prize for their short film ‘Universal Reversal’; Maria Immaculata Community College, Co Cork winning the Second Level Award with their song re-write the lyrics of the Rachel Platten hit song ‘Fight Song’; and Patrick O’ Reilly, Foroige Probation Project Cork winning the Individual Award with his rap ‘Never Let it get me down’.The winning entries included:

• Overall Winner: Schull Community College, Co Cork.
• Youth Service Award: Attic Youth Project, Co Longford.
• Youthreach Award: Youthreach Progression Navan, Co Meath.
• Primary School Award: Craigtown National School, Co Donegal.
• Second Level Award: Maria Immaculata Community College, Co Cork.
• Individual Award: Patrick O’ Reilly, Foroige Probation Project Cork, Co Cork.
• Best Poster: Mark Keogh, Naas CBS, Co Kildare.

Highly Commended:

Athlone Community College

Finglas Youth Service

Rosemount Secondary

Marian College

Merlin College

Eureka Secondary

Ballymun Youthreach

Presentation Thurles

Pobalscoil Inbhir Sceine

St Mc Daras Community College

Loreto College Fermoy

The ceremony was MCed by sports presenter Tommy Martin. Special guests included Steve Guppy, coach to the Ireland football team, Cllr. Cieran Perry, Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, John Boyle, Vice-President of the INTO and Razan Ibraheem, a Syrian journalist based in Ireland.http://www.todayfm.com/Listen:-17-year-old-raps-against-racismhttp://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/roundup/articles/2016/05/19/4120079-national-award-for-youthreach-progression-in-navan/http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/news/207931/Donegal-success-at-Anti-Racism-competition.htmlhttp://www.donegalnow.com/features/donegal-success-at-anti-racism-competition-in-dublin/92492http://www.longfordleader.ie/news/home/208236/Success-for-Attic-House-Teen-Project.htmlEntries to the competition can be viewed on www.youtube.com/theredcardire and on previous news articles at www.theredcard.ie/news