ActionTalks 2022 is open for entries!

ActionAid Ireland is calling for young people aged 14 to 17 to write a five minute speech for the ActionAid ActionTalks national speech writing competition!

The competition, now in its eighth year, encourages young people to take a stand on social issues. It also gives young people an opportunity to voice their opinions.

This year, for the first time there will be three regional finals. Five entrants from each region (Leinster, Munster, and Ulster/Connacht), 15 in total, will be selected for the regional finals. Two winners from each region will then be selected to go forward to the national final and will receive a €50 One4All voucher each. At the national final in March, six finalists will present their speech to a panel of esteemed judges. The national prize is a €500 One4All voucher for winner and a €100 One4All voucher for their teacher.

2022 ActionTalks Topics:

This year’s topics focus on the inequalities and injustices exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly gender inequality and social inequality.

• The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of unpaid work in the home (e.g., childminding, caretaking, household functioning), with women often bearing the brunt of this work. How can we redistribute unpaid work in a way that is fair for everyone?
• During the Covid-19 pandemic, incidences of gender-based violence rose, both in Ireland and internationally. What can Ireland do?
• Unfair access to vaccines has meant that those living in the poorest countries will suffer the worst effects of the pandemic. The inequalities exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic have highlighted the importance of global solidarity and international aid. Discuss.

Karol Balfe, CEO of ActionAid Ireland said: “The coronavirus pandemic has exposed ongoing social and economic inequalities across communities. Global solidarity and international aid are needed now more than ever. We are excited to give young people an opportunity to engage with these issues. It’s brilliant to see young people using their talents to bring greater awareness to issues of social justice. We have seen first-hand, through our Irish Aid funded women’s rights programme the importance of international aid, and the real-life impact it has on marginalised communities.”

We hope that entrants will come up with innovative, well-researched, and creative speeches, using their own unique perspective from growing up in a pandemic. 

Read more about the competition here.