The students were taking part in the inaugural Reading Goals book club, a children’s book club based on books connected to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The club was established in February 2021 and coincided with Ireland Reads, an initiative of the Government which was supported by public libraries. Since that first meeting, the children involved have read extensively from fiction and non-fiction, to graphic novels, short stories and literacy books.
As the children are now in sixth class, they will become Ambassadors for the Goals, and share their knowledge with families, school friends and in their social and sporting communities. This is the first year of the programme which is set to become an annual initiative.
The children were presented with a certificate, United Nations SDG bags and pins at the ceremony by Cllr Mark Barry, Cathaoirleach of Greystones Municipal District; Cllr Lourda Scott and Director of Services, Michael Nicholson. The bags were sponsored by Codling Wind Farm whose spokesperson Pamela McCann said how proud the company was to be involved in the project.
Cllr Aoife Flynn Kennedy, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, also praised the initiative.
“The children have learned the art of listening, allowing each person to express their unique opinions and perspectives,” she said.
Cllr Barry added: “As they move forward, these young ambassadors will become the torch bearers of knowledge, spreading the lessons they’ve learnt about the SDGs to their friends, classmates and the wider community through their various clubs and activities”.
Emer O’Gorman, Chief Executive, Wicklow County Council, said: “What is truly commendable about this programme is how it has nurtured diplomacy and open-mindedness among these young ambassadors. Our eight new reading ambassadors will be a local link to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and encourage positive reading habits in children”.
The SDGs are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and improve the lives and prospects of all people on the planet. The 17 Goals were adopted by all UN member states in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and with a 15-year plan to achieve the goals and a deadline of 2030, the project is already past the half-way mark.
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