Students from Kildare invited to take part in national speech writing competition

Young people from Kildare are invited to speak about global issues through ActionTalks 2025, a national speech writing competition aimed at students aged between 14 and 18 years.

Organised by ActionAid Ireland and funded by Irish Aid, ActionTalks has inspired almost 1,200 students from 223 schools nationwide to share their ideas on some of the world’s most urgent challenges since it first launched 12 years ago.

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This year’s competition, aimed at helping young people engage with global issues and to become thoughtful, active citizens, invites students to write a 600 - 800 word speech on one of three powerful global themes:

• A fossil fuel free future and the fight against climate change

• The importance of education in driving equality

• Why funding women’s rights organisations is key to ending violence against women

ActionAid Ireland CEO Karol Balfe said: “ActionTalks gives students the chance to explore big issues and empowers them to speak out. Today’s young people are tomorrow’s decision-makers, and they will shape the future of our planet. We need to hear their voices on climate action, education and women’s rights because the choices we make today will define their world tomorrow. By discussing global issues, they get to think about big issues, to understand what they think about them and to see that global solidarity is so important.”

ActionAid’s work focuses on supporting the hardest-to-reach women and girls around the world. Through its Women’s Rights Programme, funded by Irish Aid, ActionAid partners with communities in Kenya, Ethiopia and Nepal to eliminate violence against women and girls.

How to Take Part:

• Students choose one of the three topics and write a 600 - 800 word speech.

• Teachers email the speeches to ActionAid by 16th January 2026.

• 15 students will be selected for the regional finals, with the six winners at regional level each winning a €50 voucher.

• The six national finalists will present their speeches to a panel of expert judges in March.

• The overall winner receives a €500 voucher, and their teacher  €100

Entries must be submitted by email through a teacher.

Full details and submission guidelines are available at www.actionaid.ie/speech-writing-competition