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THE 2020 PRAMERICA AWARDS 14 & 15 SEPTEMBER 2020 WELCOME Lidia Ballocchi PROGRAMME Sasha Barrett-Ferris Pramerica Systems Ireland, the National Association of Principals & Deputy Principals Monday 14 September and the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland welcome you to our virtual Gavin Bennett awards ceremony in honour of the 20 Finalists of the 2020 Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards. Jemma Campbell Workshop for 2020 honourees The Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards programme was launched in 2006 to recognise post-primary / second-level students for volunteer work in their communities. The Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards is sponsored by Pramerica Rebecca Colley Systems Ireland Limited, a Prudential Financial, Inc. (PFI) * company; the Tuesday 15 September National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD); and the General Jessica Collins Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI). It is modelled after PFI’s Spirit of Community Awards, a youth-recognition programme that has been very successful for Keira Culleton Awards Ceremony many years in the United States, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China and Brazil. Jamie Duffy Each of the 20 Finalists will receive engraved silver medallions and a €500 award. The Opening by Naomi Hegarty two highest placed junior honourees will receive an additional €500 towards a charity Vice President, Risk & Privacy, Pramerica of their choice. Two Finalists will be named “All-Ireland Youth Volunteers of the Lauren Gaynor Year” and will receive gold medallions, an additional €1,000 prizemoney plus €1,000 for a charity of their choice. This year due to COVID-19 there will be no trip to Charlotte Gallaher Address by Ciaran Harvey Washington, D.C. to attend the national recognition events for the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards programme. Liadh Hanley Senior Managing Director & CIO, Pramerica Pramerica Systems Ireland provide strategic, innovative and cost effective business and technology services and solutions that enhance Prudential’s business performance. Rebecca Irvine Introduction to 2020 Honourees Pramerica provides Professional Services, Technology Solutions and Operations Services to all of Prudential’s business groups and corporate centres. Pramerica’s global Grainne McGlynn footprint spans across all time zones, allowing it to operate across all of Prudential. Address by Brendan Morgan Julie Reddan Chairperson, General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland Established under the auspices of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1998, the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) is the independent Jake Redmond professional body for teachers in Northern Ireland. It is dedicated to enhancing the Address by Alan Mongey status of teaching and promoting the highest standards of professional conduct and President, National Association of Principals & Deputy Principals practice. Aurora Riddiough The National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) represents Sophia Shally Adam Harris Principals and Deputy Principals at post-primary level. The Association aims to Guest Speaker provide a united voice nationally for Principals and Deputy Principals on issues of Aaron Smith common concern in the Republic of Ireland. Emma Smyth Awards Presentations Two top placed 2020 Junior Volunteers *Prudential Financial, Inc. of the United States is not affiliated with Prudential plc, which is headquar- tered in the United Kingdom Teagan Stanley 2020 All-Ireland Youth Volunteers of the Year Closing Remarks THE 2020 PRAMERICA SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARDS FINALISTS’ BIOGRAPHIES Lidia Ballocchi (Co. Down), a student at Assumption Grammar School, Lidia’s volunteering journey began at a local St Vincent De Paul charity shop, where she spent her weekends volunteering, giving her time and learning crucial life lessons along the way. Gavin Bennett (Co. Offaly), a student at Ard Scoil Chiarain Naofa, began volunteering with the local Brosna Centre in order to give something back to a Volunteering in such an environment, Lidia was a helping hand and an ear to listen for community which he is very proud to be part of. those who would visit the shop and believes it has had a massive positive impact on her own life. Gavin participated in ‘Swim for a Mile’ for the Brosna Centre, training twice a week for three months in order to complete the swim and raise vital funds that the centre Lidia then began volunteering at a dementia ward in the Downe Hospital, which sparked needed to stay open for the local community. her interest in going to the Holy Shrine of Knock in Co. Mayo in order to help elderly pilgrims on their journeys. These experiences also impacted Lidia’s decision to fundraise Gavin regularly volunteers baking goods for the cake sales in school for charity and for Saphara India 2018 and spend three weeks in India, where she supported the recently enjoyed taking part in a fashion show in his school called ‘This is Me’, in aid education of young women from impoverished areas. of autism awareness. Gavin also helped coordinate the ‘Relay for Life in Edenderry’, a 24 hour walk to honour people affected by cancer, raising much needed money for Lidia believes these experiences are the reason she is the person that she is today. the Irish Cancer Society. Lidia’s motivation for volunteering: “Since I was 14, my friends encouraged me to Gavin’s motivation for volunteering: “My motivation for volunteering was to give get involved in extracurricular activities. I joined sports clubs and participated in school something back to the Brosna Centre. I wanted to help raise much needed funds for activities; it was then that I decided to move onto the next logical step; volunteering.” the Brosna Centre, I know how vital funds are to keep the Centre going.” Sasha Barrett-Ferris (Co. Down), a student at Sullivan Upper School, Sasha has been volunteering with Guides and Scouts from an early age, teaching girls from deprived Jemma Campbell (Co. Antrim), a student at Our Lady and St. Patrick’s areas the essential skills needed for life and helping them to grow in confidence. College. Growing up with a sister with Turner Syndrome and with three members of her family diagnosed with ASD, Jemma was determined to raise awareness and learn Also passionate about helping the homeless and poor, Sasha volunteered to make more about these conditions. She currently volunteers with Helping Hands Autism Christmas Food Parcels and gift bags for Dundonald food bank so struggling families charity and Turner Syndrome Support Society to do this. could still enjoy the holidays like everyone else. Late at night during the cold winter season, Sasha kindly offered up her own free time to hand out blankets, gloves, toiletries, Jemma has natural instincts to care for people and is a Ward volunteer at the Ulster food and other goods to those living on the streets of Belfast. Sasha is currently making a Hospital, taking care of patients and helping nurses. As a cadet leader for over two YouTube video of this to show how a small act can make a big difference; and ultimately years, Jemma volunteers with St. John’s Ambulance teaching first aid to the younger inspire others to do their bit to end homelessness. cadets and attending weekend classes to further expand her knowledge. For the past six years, Sasha had been volunteering at RSPB’s annual Big Wild Sleep Out, In 2018, Jemma was selected to be part of a team of young people who went to in Omagh and Cultra. Putting up tents, leading children’s activities and games, running Texas to take part in volunteering and cross community work with the Ulster the campfire and encouraging families to enjoy nature whilst educating them on how to Project. While in America, Jemma undertook several volunteering activities preserve it. including ‘the Spirit of Hope Foundation’, in which she took a group of underprivileged children shopping for school essentials and hosted a banquet dinner Sasha also has a keen interest in sport and has led the NICS Hockey Club at a disability for a homeless shelter. hockey summer scheme for the past three years. The scheme allows one to one coaching for children and young adults, to allow them to engage with sport and unlock their full Jemma’s motivation for volunteering: “My family’s medical conditions inspired potential. With her brother, Sasha also donates some of her spare time fundraising for and motivated me to volunteer and my aim is to impact others by raising awareness Mental Health UK and once raised £800 from a JustGiving Page. and supporting those affected and their families.” Sasha’s motivation for volunteering: “I have always had a desire to help others, and because many members of my family suffer with illness, I feel that seeing them struggle on a daily basis planted a seed within me to want to help others in any way I could.” THE 2020 PRAMERICA SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARDS FINALISTS’ BIOGRAPHIES Keira Culleton (Co. Derry), a student at Loreto College, is a volunteer with cross-community programme SPARK. Keira is a key member of this initiative which focused on celebrating people’s similarities rather than the differences between various groups in the community. Kiera takes part in activities each week which can Rebecca Colley (Co. Dublin), is a student at Castleknock Community College. include litter picking, visiting residents in local care homes, interacting with local As a volunteer with Special Olympics, Rebecca coaches a team of 18 individuals of businesses and cleaning neglected graves. all ages in swimming with the aim of improving their confidence, communication and integration skills. Rebecca sees first-hand the positive impact that giving young Diagnosed with Scoliosis in 2018, Kiera wears a back brace, but she does not let this people time and attention can have on them. stop her doing the things she loves. Kiera has presented to her class and Camogie team to help her friends and teammates understand about what Scoliosis is and why Working with Special Olympics allowed Rebecca to meet other wonderful and she needs to wear the brace.

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