A team from Ballakermeen High School representing the Koru Hospital Fund in Kenya were the victors in this year’s One World Charity Challenge, winning ?2,500 for their chosen charity. But competition among rival schools was so strong, the remaining finalists were all awarded runner-up status in what was an impressive night of presentations held recently at the Manx Museum.
The One World Charity Challenge is an annual event for Year 12 students who are tasked with researching and representing Manx charities that work in other countries, or UK charities that have received funding from the Isle of Man International Development Committee.
This year’s presentations included videos, role play, various props and even samples of food eaten in the relevant countries. St Ninian’s chose to deliver their presentation as a “live television broadcast”.
In addition to an engaging presentation, the judges were also looking for evidence from the participants of a number of skills including evaluation, judgement, analysis, insight, empathy and teamwork.
All the teams taking part in the One World Charity Challenge, including those knocked out at the earlier inter-school round, are eligible for a grant for their chosen charity from the competition’s prize fund which is generously provided by the H&S Davidson Trust and matched by the International Development Committee. This year the total prize money was ?21,500.
With Ballakermeen taking the top prize, the other five finalists each received ?1,500 and the 22 charities whose teams did not reach the finals each received smaller amounts.
The Hon David Anderson, MHK, representing the International Development Committee, presented the finalists with the cheques for their charities. The winning team is also awarded the Frances Davidson Cup which was presented to Ballakermeen by Lieutenant Governor Adam Wood, patron of the One World Centre.
The full list of presentations at the finals was:
• Castle Rushen High School: Action Saves Kids – which helps abused rag picker street children in India and promotes community development, health care and education
• Isle of Man College: Pahar Trust – which provides schools for children of the Nepalese hill regions
• King William’s College: Ro-Man-Aid – which works in partnership with Romanians on long and short term projects benefiting disadvantaged people living within the community
• Queen Elizabeth II High School: Namaste Children’s House – a home-style orphanage for the poor, needy and orphan children of Nepal
• St Ninian’s High School: Malawi Mission Project – which creates long-term, sustainable initiatives that will help to eradicate poverty in Malawi
• Ballakermeen High School: Koru Hospital Fund – which works with the Kenyan community to provide access to sustainable and effective healthcare
Photo - The winning team from Ballakermeen representing Koru Hospital Trust. From left to right: Hon David Anderson MHK from the International Development Committee with the Ballakermeen team Kai Kirkham, Ewan Quayle, Lucy McGinn, Rachel Quayle, George Lillywhite and Emma Novak.
