Louth student reaches Foróige NFTE national final 2026
St Vincent’s Secondary School student represented Louth at the Foróige Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2026 at Croke Park, Dublin
Amy Watters from St Vincent’s Secondary School proudly represented Louth at the Foróige Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2026 at Croke Park, Dublin.
Amy’s business, Create & Escape, creates portable art and craft kits designed to help people relax, unwind and take a break from daily stress.
The kits provide a mindful alternative to screen time while encouraging creativity and self expression. Simple, accessible and fun, each kit is carefully designed to support wellbeing and promote moments of calm through creative activities for all ages.
Wayne Travers, Chairperson of Foróige, commented; “Today has been a brilliant reminder of just how talented, creative and driven young people are.
"What we’ve seen here isn’t just entrepreneurial skill - it’s confidence, empathy, resilience and ambition. Foróige NFTE gives young people the chance to believe in their ideas and in themselves, and that can have a lasting impact far beyond business. Every young person here today should be incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved.”
The Foróige Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) is an internationally recognised youth entrepreneurship and development programme delivered by Foróige in Ireland since 2004.
NFTE supports young people to develop business ideas while also building important life skills including confidence, communication, leadership, teamwork and problem-solving.
The programme gives young people the opportunity to explore their creativity, grow in self-belief and recognise their own potential.
Through NFTE, young people are encouraged to think differently, take initiative and develop skills that can support them in education, employment and life.
The Foróige NFTE programme is supported by Rethink Ireland, PayPal, Dormant Accounts Funding through the Department of Education and Youth, basis.point - an initiative of the Irish Funds Industry - and the Department of Rural and Community Development.