St Leo’s group shines at garda awards

STUDENTS from St Leo’s College in Carlow were celebrated at the Garda National Youth Awards last Saturday for their innovative campaign encouraging young people to put down their phones and embrace real-life experiences.

The fourth-year group was honoured at the Midlands Park Hotel in Portlaoise for their ***Phoneless Phobia*** project, which won the Community Safety Award for the Carlow/Kilkenny division. The Young Social Innovators initiative aimed to tackle excessive phone use among their peers and promote healthier alternatives to screen time.

The students created an impactful awareness video, engaged in workshops and promoted journaling as a healthier alternative to constant scrolling.

Their campaign included a basketball match for first-year students, an Instagram account and a talk with Sergeant Conor Egan from Carlow Garda Station. Karen Byrne, the teacher who oversaw the project, explained the inspiration behind the campaign. “The girls found that a lot of their friends and family were constantly scrolling endlessly on their phones and that people their age were almost scared to put the phone down and to experience life,” she said. Ms Byrne added that the timing was particularly relevant given the Department of Education’s ban on phones in schools from September last year.

The Garda National Youth Awards recognised 25 young people aged 13-21 from across Ireland who have positively contributed to their communities. Assistant Commissioner Catharina Gunne opened the ceremony, with RTÉ’s Miriam O’Callaghan serving as guest of honour.

Assistant commissioner Gunne said: “Each winner here today represents the very best of what young people in our communities can achieve. They are all inspirational.”

The students received support from Carlow Credit Union which sponsored their initiative.