Lisburn’s young people speak out about the environment

PUPILS from schools across Lisburn recently took part in the 14th annual Environmental Youth Speak competition at Lagan Valley LeisurePlex.

Eighteen pupils from ten local schools displayed their impressive public speaking talents to the judging panel as they competed for a place at the regional final.

The aim of this competition is to encourage environmental awareness among young people by providing them with an opportunity to research and debate environmental issues.

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There were two entry categories of Junior (P6 and P7 pupils) and Senior (Year 8 and Year 9 pupils) with this year’s themes being: ‘Shrink Your Bin – One Less Bag to Landfill’ and ‘Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) Waste, Big Problem, What Can we do?’

Lisburn City Council’s Waste Management Section organised the Lisburn heat and the pupils were assessed on their topics by the judging panel of Council Officers.

Councillor Andrew Ewing, Chairman of the Environmental Services Committee, said: “I understand the judging panel found it very difficult to reach a decision as to the winner of each category.

“I would like to congratulate the heat winner Susanne Hunter of Knockmore Primary School in the Junior Section, and Brooke Johnston of Lisnagarvey High School in the Senior Section,” he said.

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Susanne is the first student to enter the competition from Knockmore while Brooke is not a stranger to accepting a winner’s trophy at Environmental Youth Speak – after winning the Lisburn Junior competition heat in 2010 for Meadowbridge Primary, Brooke went on to be the runner up in the grand final that year.

All the participants at the Lisburn heat received a certificate and an environmentally friendly goodie bag. Mr Ewing presented the two heat winners with a cup to be kept by their schools until next year.

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