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Speech Writing Competition

The ActionTalks 2027 competition will open in September 2026.

Find out more about the 2026 competition and download our free teaching resources below.

Action Talk How to Guide
Action Talk Resources
Group of students in school uniforms stand in front of a vibrant nature-themed display screen.
Irish Aid logo

Global Citizenship Education 

Our annual ActionTalks Speech Writing Competition is a part of our Global Citizenship Education work, supported by Irish Aid. We are members of the Irish Development Education Association and are signed up to their code of conduct for Global Citizenship Education to ensure our resources, formal, non-formal and informal, meet the best possible standards. 

2026 Competition

Download ActionTalk resources

We highly encourage both students and teachers to use our resources.  For secondary school teachers our resources are recommended for English, CSPE, Politics and Society and Transition Year classes. These resources include three presentations and lesson plans, all of which feature videos, group work, and interactive elements.

Each presentation is under this year’s themes of the climate crisis, the role of education in gender equality and the importance of funding women’s rights organisations.

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ActionTalks how to guides

Do you want to take further action on the issues you have learned about as part of the competition such as contacting a local politician or writing a letter to your local newspaper? If so, you can download our free take-action guides here to support you to take further action.

Read FAQ

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Criteria for entering 

Speech Writing Skills

Writing skills are important, so we recommend having someone proofread your speech to check for any grammatical or spelling mistakes. It’s also a good idea to read your speech out loud to yourself or someone else a few times to check the punctuation and flow of your speech. While the tone should be formal don’t forget to make your unique style come through in your writing! 

Innovative ideas or viewpoints  

We recommend reading through a wide variety of sources about our chosen topic and coming up with your own viewpoints, ideas and solutions. Remember that you are not only writing about a certain issue, but also critically analysing it and providing your own viewpoint.   

Ideas complemented by case studies, facts and figures

References are very important- while it is amazing to incorporate your own experiences and viewpoints into your speech, it is important to have your arguments backed up by case studies, facts and figures. While in-text citations aren’t necessary, please include all your sources in the bibliography.  

Creativity in getting points across

Be creative! Try to find unique ways to present your arguments. Think outside of the box and be original! 

Global outlook

Your speech should have a global outlook. While it is encouraged to base elements of your speech in an Irish context, you should analyse your theme with a global outlook in mind. 

Don’t use AI  

Speeches must be written only by the participants- plagiarised speeches or speeches written using AI will be disqualified. 

The competition in 2026

In 2025, students wrote speeches on fossil fuels, the importance of women’s rights organisations for ending violence and how education is crucial for girls. This year the competition received 136 entries from 33 schools across 14 counties, highlighting the passion and awareness of young people across the country.
Read Blog Post

Frequently asked questions

I am a teacher, and I want my students to participate in the competition. What do I do?  
Please share the topics and with your students and encourage them to write a 600 word speech on one of the topics. We have also developed three interactive resources accompanied by lesson plans that you can deliver to your class. To download our resources simply go to “Download Resources” and enter your details.
There is a word count of approximately 600-800 words, excluding bibliography.
Anyone aged 14-18 residing in Ireland can participate in the competition. While some classrooms use our learning resources, it is not necessary to have partaken in one of these classes to participate.
ActionTalks is free to enter

To enter ask your teacher to email your entry to comms.ireland@actionaid.org, with your name and school clearly in the heading.

If you meet the age criteria and live in Ireland, yes, you can enter. However, we strongly recommend reading our resources as a good starting point for writing your speech.

Unfortunately, our competition is only open to those residing within the Republic of Ireland.

Unfortunately, our judges won’t have the level of Irish needed to adequately judge a speech written in Irish this year. We admire any student with an interest and ability to deliver a speech in Irish and will work on ways that Irish could be included in future competitions.  

Make an enquiry

ActionTalks
how to guides

Fill out our form below to get your take-action guides for your students.

Download Write to your TD
Download Write a letter to your local newspaper

ActionTalks
resources 2025/2026

Current Resources
Past resources
Three women smiling and harvesting leafy greens in a vibrant community garden.

Campaigning for a fossil fuel free future and for climate action

Please find links to the ActionAid “Campaigning for a fossil fuel free future and for climate action” resources below to teach students about Ireland’s role in fighting against climate change. 

  • ActionAid Campaigning for a fossil fuel free future and for climate action presentation 2026
  • ActionAid Campaigning for a fossil fuel free future and for climate action lesson plan 2026
Presentation
Lesson Plan

Education: women’s rights and the fight for equality

Please find links to the ActionAid “Education: women’s rights and the fight for equality​​” resources below to teach students about the importance of education in achieving equality.

  • ActionAid Education: women’s rights and the fight for equality Presentation 2026
  • ActionAid Education: women’s rights and the fight for equality Lesson Plan 2026
Presentation
Lesson Plan
Joyful child in blue sweater with unicorn, smiling and raising arms outside, embodying happiness and playfulness.
Woman in a hijab and vest outside, standing by a mural with a red boot illustration.

Women’s rights organisations
and ending violence against women and girls

Please find links to the ActionAid “Women’s rights organisations as the key to ending violence against women and girls​” resources below to teach students about the importance of overseas aid and the work of women’s rights organisations:

  • ActionAid Women’s rights organisations as the key to ending violence against women and girls presentation 2026
  • ActionAid Women’s rights organisations as the key to ending violence against women and girls lesson plan 2026
Presentation
Lesson Plan

Resources from previous years

2024/2025 Resources

Climate Change and Women’s Rights

Please find links to the ActionAid “Climate Change and Women’s Rights” resources below to teach students about the impacts of climate change on women’s rights:

Presentation
Lesson Plan
2024/2025 Resources

Women’s Leadership during Emergencies​

Please find links to the ActionAid “Women’s Leadership during Emergencies​​” resources below to teach students about women leadership in humanitarian crises:

Presentation
Lesson Plan
2024/2025 Resources

Overseas Aid and Women’s Rights Organisations

Please find links to the ActionAid “Overseas Aid and Women’s Rights Organisations​” resources below to teach students about the importance of overseas aid and the work of women’s rights organisations:

Presentation
Lesson Plan

2023/2024 Resources

Care Work and Poverty

Please find links to the ActionAid “Care Work and Poverty” resources below to teach students about the importance of care both unpaid and paid for gender equality:

Presentation
Lesson Plan

2023/2024 Resources

Agroecology and the climate crisis

Please find links to the ActionAid “Agroecology and the climate crisis​” resources below to teach students about the climate crisis and propose agroecology as one possible solution:

Presentation
Lesson Plan

2023/2024 Resources

Gender-based Violence and Crises​

Please find links to the ActionAid “Gender-based Violence and Crises​” resources below to teach students about the impact that crises including climate change have on gender-based violence and women’s rights.

Presentation
Lesson Plan

2022/2023 Resources

Unpaid Care

Please find links to the ActionAid “Who Cares” resources below to teach students about the importance of care both unpaid and paid for gender equality:
Presentation
Lesson Plan

2022/2023 Resources

Right to Education

Please find links to the ActionTalks “Everyone has a right to education” resources below to teach students about the human right to education and how financing education is crucial to ensure all children receive an education.

Presentation
Lesson Plan

2022/2023 Resources

Loss and Damage

Please find links to the ActionTalks “Loss and Damage” resources below to teach students about the effects of climate change on the global south, the importance of loss and damage, and to provide students with actions to take.

Presentation
Lesson Plan