SWaMP2008 Double Win at Environmental Youth Speak Finals

Pupils from two schools in the SWaMP2008 Waste Management Region scooped the Junior and Senior Northern Ireland Environmental Youth Speak titles when the annual schools’ environmental speaking competition reached its climax at the Craigavon Civic Centre.

Sean King from Saint Joseph’s Primary School Meigh, in Newry and Mourne District Council, won the NI Junior title and Christopher Corry from Lismore Comprehensive, in Craigavon Borough Council, won the NI Senior title.

Both pupils had to fight off stiff competition to win their Regional SWaMP2008 heats and then faced the winning pupils from the arc21 and North West Waste Management Regions – the two other NI Waste Management areas.

More than one thousand pupils from right across Northern Ireland took part in the competition which began initially at Council level in March. Two representatives from all twenty six Councils then travelled to Craigavon on Thursday 14th April to compete in the Regional and NI Finals.

Environmental Youth Speak is designed to encourage environmental awareness among young people by giving them the opportunity to research and debate environmental issues. The topics for this year’s competition were “Rethink Your Waste – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” and “Love Food hate Waste”. The competition, organised by Northern Ireland’s three waste Management groups  – arc21 (Eastern region), SWaMP2008 (Southern Waste Management Partnership) and North West Region Management Group – with sponsorship from  Cookstown Textile Recyclers, continues to be a highlight in schools’ environmental calendar in Northern Ireland.

Sean and Christopher are pictured with Nuala Mc Keever, who compered the NI Final, and Deputy Mayor of Craigavon Borough Council Councillor Kieran Corr.

Nuala McKeever, Sean King St Joseph’s PS Meigh (Junior NI Winner), Christopher Corry Lismore Comprehensive Craigavon (Senior NI Winner), Councillor Kieran Corr, Deputy Mayor Craigavon Borough Council.