A Young Citizen award has been launched by President Mary McAleese to recognise the work of young adults involved in their local communities through active citizenship projects.
The scheme will reward people aged 12-25 who have shown commitment to projects such as environmental work, caring for people with special needs or affirming diversity.
The award scheme was launched as part of 2005 European Year of Citizenship Through Education at Áras an Uachtaráin yesterday.
The Young Citizen award is not a competition and the President has appealed for all young adults who have made a positive contribution to their community to apply either as individuals or as part of a group. "There is a huge range of work going on, driven by our young citizens - from sport to the environment, from peace to politics, from outreach to the world's poor to cross-Border friendship-building, from care for the elderly to celebrating diversity and much more besides," said Mrs McAleese.
National and secondary schools as well as youth groups around the country will be encouraging young people to apply for the award. County and city development boards will oversee the local co-ordination and assessment of applications.
The main criterion to receive the award is set out as "people acting or participating in a socially responsible way in the different communities that they belong to".