Taoiseach Takeover: Celebrating World Children’s Day with UNICEF Ireland
The Taoiseach Takeover is an exciting annual event organised in collaboration with UNICEF Ireland and the Department of the Taoiseach to celebrate World Children’s Day. This initiative empowers children and young people to take on significant roles in media, politics, business, sports, and entertainment, allowing them to voice their concerns and share their visions for the future.
As part of UNICEF’s global campaign #KidsTakeOver, the Taoiseach Takeover aims to amplify the voices of young people on critical issues that impact their lives. This initiative encourages decision-makers and leaders to actively listen to the views of children and youth, ensuring their opinions are considered in shaping policies that affect their futures.
If you’re interested in joining the next Taoiseach Takeover and making your voice heard, we invite you to apply online.
Nathan Dunne: Championing Education Equality During UNICEF’s #KidsTakeOver
UNICEF Youth Advocate Nathan Dunne participated in UNICEF’s #KidsTakeOver of the Taoiseach’s Office as part of the organisation’s World Children’s Day campaign on November 20th. This marks the 7th annual Taoiseach’s Takeover organised by UNICEF, which offers young advocates the chance to meet the Taoiseach and engage in discussions on pressing issues while shadowing him at various events throughout the day.
Nathan, an 18-year-old fifth-year student from Ballymun, is deeply passionate about education, and this will be the central focus of his meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. As a student attending a DEIS school, Nathan explored the impact of economic disadvantage on education and emphasised the need for equal opportunities for students from low-income households.
During his conversation with Taoiseach Varadkar, Nathan addressed three critical issues affecting education in his community: cultural barriers, financial barriers, and the lack of graduate job opportunities.
Among his key advocacy points, Nathan proposed several initiatives, including:
- An extension of Child Benefit for those over 18.
- Expanding the free schoolbook scheme to include Senior Cycle students.
- Developing a support scheme for students leaving school.
- Increasing access to third-level HEAR schemes and Access programmes.
- Conducting a review of the “voluntary contribution” fees.
- Creating professional opportunities in disadvantaged areas.
Nathan’s dedication to these issues reflects his commitment to improving educational equity and empowering young people across Ireland.
Donnacha Lehehan: Advocates for Online Privacy with Taoiseach Micheál Martin
Donnacha Lenehan, a 16-year-old advocate, recently met with Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Government Buildings to discuss crucial issues surrounding online privacy, disinformation, and the mental health impacts of social media. During this important meeting, Donnacha passionately called for enhanced protections for children in the digital space.
As a frequent user of online platforms, Donnacha experiences both the opportunities and risks associated with the internet. He understands first-hand how these platforms can foster social connections and provide valuable learning experiences. However, he also recognizes the challenges they pose, particularly for young people.
During their discussion, Taoiseach Micheál Martin acknowledged that while digital platforms offer significant benefits, they also present serious challenges and risks for youth. Donnacha emphasized that Ireland, being home to many of the world’s leading social media companies, has a unique opportunity to lead the way in protecting children online.
He raised critical questions about the impact of disinformation and urged that Ireland has a responsibility to ensure technology companies uphold the highest standards in protecting children’s rights. This meeting highlights the ongoing dialogue about the need for stronger online safety measures for young people.
Liadh Dalton: Teenage Farmer and Climate Activist Meets Taoiseach Micheál Martin
Liadh Dalton, a passionate teenage farmer and climate activist from County Offaly, recently brought the voices of farming families to the Taoiseach’s office during the critical final phase of the COP26 climate negotiations. As the 2021 #KidsTakeOver winner, she met with Taoiseach Micheál Martin to discuss collaborative efforts toward achieving a positive climate future for every child in Ireland by safeguarding both nature and farming livelihoods.
During their meeting, Liadh emphasised the importance of bridging the gap between farming communities and climate activists to develop sustainable solutions. She advocated for positive and open dialogue to effectively tackle the climate crisis, highlighting that farmers play a crucial role in addressing climate change and should be recognised as custodians of the land.
Liadh shared simple yet impactful actions she takes on her family’s farm to protect the environment, including planting trees, cultivating wildflowers, and collecting rainwater. She believes that these small initiatives can significantly contribute to preserving biodiversity and protecting wildlife. By communicating the proactive measures farmers are already implementing, Liadh hopes to foster a collaborative environment where new sustainable solutions can be explored and adopted.
Ruairi Holohan: Advocate for Respect and Equality during #KidsTakeOver
Ruairi Holohan, a 15-year-old from Drogheda, Co. Louth, was selected to lead this year’s #KidsTakeOver initiative. During a recent Zoom call with Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Ruairi emphasised the importance of fostering respect for all students through comprehensive school programs. He shared his personal experience with homophobic bullying, expressing disappointment over the lack of education regarding issues faced by young LGBTQ+ individuals within the current Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) programs.
Ruairi highlighted that it is challenging for students to feel comfortable in an educational environment where such critical issues are not adequately addressed. The Taoiseach listened attentively and concurred with Ruairi’s perspective, recognising the need for improved education on these topics to create a more inclusive school atmosphere.
This year’s celebrations also featured virtual conversations between a group of Young Changemakers and Government Ministers. Minister for Children, Disability, Equality, and Integration, Roderic O’Gorman, and Minister for Education, Norma Foley, engaged with teenagers who recently completed UNICEF Ireland’s youth activism course. Together, they discussed child rights issues relevant to their ministerial responsibilities.
Additionally, in partnership with IOM (the International Organisation for Migration in Ireland), two further discussions were organised for young people eager to address children’s rights with the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, and Justice, Helen McEntee.
Charles Gallagher: Advocating for Youth Well-Being and Climate Action on World Children’s Day
In 2019, Charles Gallagher from County Donegal had the unique opportunity to spend World Children’s Day shadowing Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. He began his day attending a British Irish Council meeting at Farmleigh House in Dublin, where he met First Minister of Scotland, Nichola Sturgeon.
Charles emerged as the winner of UNICEF Ireland’s 2019 #KidsTakeOver competition after submitting a compelling video outlining the changes he would implement as a leader to protect the future of young people.
During a private meeting with the Taoiseach, Charles highlighted crucial issues affecting young people’s well-being in schools. He advocated for enhanced support systems in areas such as youth mental health, learning disabilities, and managing exam pressures. Charles emphasised the importance of ensuring that young people across the country have access to standardised support services and educational resources, regardless of their location. He also took the opportunity to voice his generation’s concerns regarding climate change.
Following his discussion with the Taoiseach, Charles met with the Minister for Health to reiterate his concerns about the availability of mental health supports for young people. He then returned to Government Buildings for additional meetings with the Taoiseach’s special advisor on Climate and the Environment, as well as the International Relations team.
Aoife Murphy: Advocating for Youth Voices and Voting Rights
In 2018, Aoife Murphy, a 15-year-old from Westmeath, brought the voices of young people across Ireland to the Taoiseach’s office on November 19th. Aoife passionately campaigned for Ireland to lower the voting age to 16, spending the day with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to emphasise the importance of young people’s participation in decisions that shape their futures.
“Young people are facing significant challenges such as climate change, inequality, and unemployment. We want to play our part in determining who makes the decisions that will have a profound impact on our generation,” Aoife stated. “It is our future—we deserve a say.” She argued that if politicians viewed young people as credible constituents, they would take their perspectives into greater consideration.
During her visit, Aoife also met with Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone, at the launch of the First 5 strategy, further amplifying her commitment to advocating for youth rights and representation.
Joella Dhlamini: Championing Education and Equality on World Children’s Day
In 2017, Joella Dhlamini, a 16-year-old from Drogheda, Co. Louth, spent World Children’s Day with An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Joella and Mr. Varadkar participated in various events across Counties Meath and Dublin before returning to Leinster House for the official World Children’s Day celebrations.
During their time together, Mr. Varadkar learned about Joella’s mission to educate people on the impact of racism and her vision for a more inclusive Ireland. Originally from Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, Joella moved to Ireland in 2013 to escape violent crime and to take advantage of the country’s education system.
In addition to addressing racism, Joella raised several pressing issues concerning young people in Ireland, as highlighted in discussions with UNICEF Ireland. These concerns included disability rights, poverty, climate change, and the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
