Teenagers win national media award for drug awareness drama

By JACQUELINE HOGGE A GROUP of Tuam teenagers have scooped a national media award for a short drama that looks at the dilemma faced by teenagers offered drugs. The group who are students of a County Galway VEC Back to Education initiative and members of the Western Youth Traveller Project won the overall Spirit Award at the Let's Talk About Drugs media awards. The awards are aimed at primary and secondary school students, college students and aspiring members of the media, to stimulate debate around the drugs and alcohol issue in Irish communities. The group's film, Choice, looks at the dilemma facing a teenage boy as he struggles to decide if he should take drugs like many of his friends. The awards were established to encourage the journalists, writers, film-makers and animators of tomorrow to talk about drug and alcohol issues in Ireland. The drama was based on an information leaflet the students devised last year that highlighted the issues facing young people in the west of Ireland regarding drug and alcohol use. They developed the leaflet into the short film as part of their TV and Video production course through the VEC and were commended for the positive outlook and vision that the project displayed. 'Back To Education Initiatives allow students to participate in some very exciting educational programmes,' said Eithne Nic Dhonnchadha, Adult Education Officer with Co Galway VEC. 'Our media courses in particular allow students to develop the technical skills required for film and television work as well as allowing them to explore issues of national and inter-global importance such as the use of drugs and alcohol among young people. 'The students were given the opportunity to address this issue in a way that was relevant and meaningful to them whilst at the same time being very creative and skilful.' The students received their award from Minister of State Roisin Shorthall TD at a special ceremony in Dublin last week.