“The Gaisce awards offers the student the ability to make a commitment beyond the self and sustain that commitment over time; the opportunity to offer your own imaginative and practical contribution to the shaping of our shared future and it recognises the efforts of many young people who are prepared to challenge themselves, form their ideas into actions as they strive to reach their full potential”

President Michel D Higgins

This year our Transition Years engaged with one of Ireland’s most prestigious youth awards, Gaisce – The President’s Award. ‘Gaisce’ is an old Irish word which means ‘a great achievement’ and the Award programme is a challenge from the President of Ireland to all young people to dream big and fulfil their potential.

The Award is a self-directed personal development programme in which participants set and achieve their own personal goals in four different sections of activity: Community Involvement, Personal Skill, Physical Recreation and an Adventure Journey.

Each Gaisce Award challenge is an individual one, the only person participants compete against is themselves. There are three levels of the programme which when successfully completed lead to a Bronze, Silver, or Gold Gaisce Award. Gaisce Award participants are supported and mentored by two President’s Award Leaders Mr. Dunbar and Mrs. Guinan.

The Gaisce Award programme provides a structure for working towards and achieving a distinctive award that is recognised around the world and which can be a positive indicator for future employability. The Award inspires our students to extend their expectations of themselves. They are encouraged to set their own challenges and goals before starting an activity. They achieve the Award by striving to achieve their goals and by showing that they have learned and developed in the process.

The Gaisce Award programme provides a practical way for our students to connect with their community and begin a habit of positive contribution to society. This is achieved by using the Community Involvement section to encourage volunteering in ways that might not have been considered previously. This section is based on the understanding that in order for young people to be active citizens and play a positive role in the community, they must get the opportunity to take on responsibility, to contribute to society, and to be respected and show respect for others. Subsequently, if you or someone you know is in a position to facilitate Gaisce community involvement next year, we would love to hear from you.