A team from Ballakermeen High School representing the charity Powerful Information has won the coveted last place to go forward to this year’s One World Charity Challenge finals.

The six Year 12 students gave a lively presentation on the work of Powerful Information which helps develop skills and education among people in low-income countries through the use of ICT. A total of five teams took part in the Ballakermeen in-school competition with other groups representing Mothers Union, ManASVI, DO! Developing Orphans and Koru Hospital Fund. A finalist is selected from each school that takes part.

Powerful Information is one of two new charities to be represented at this year’s Charity Challenge finals which take place in front of an invited audience, including His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor Sir Richard Gozney, at the Manx Museum on 29th March. African Promise, a charity which helps equip rural primary schools in Kenya is also represented for the first time by a team from QE2 High School.

Other finalists include a team from Ramsey Grammar School representing St George Foundation, Castle Rushen High School representing Pahar Trust, and teams from King Williams College representing Drop Inn Ministries and Excellent Development. King Williams College have two teams in the finals as they have double the number of in-school competition teams participating in the Challenge.

This year marks the 10th year of One World Charity Challenge which has been funded throughout the past decade by the H&S Davidson Trust. All teams completing the project and who take part in the in-school finals are able to win prize money for their chosen charities. So far around ?9,000 has been distributed to charities at the in-school competition stage with a further ?9,000 up for grabs to the teams competing on the Finals night. This includes prizes for an audience vote and for most creative fundraising ideas from the students themselves as well as the official judging.

One World Centre Director Rosemary Clarke said: “Excitement is really mounting now with the Finals just a week or so away and the teams involved will be busy polishing their presentations and rehearsing their scripts. I’ve been lucky enough to attend most of the in-school competitions and I’d like to thank all the teams who have taken part for the time and effort they have put in.

“As well as raising valuable funds for their chosen charities and learning about development education, the students will have honed a number of skills along the way such as critical thinking, teamwork, presentation and public speaking. I wish all the finalists the best of luck on March 29th.”

Photo - Through to the finals: the winning team from Ballakermeen High School’s in-school competition who are representing Powerful Information