"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; defend the rights of all those who have nothing. Speak up and judge fairly, and defend the rights of the poor and needy."

Proverbs 31: 8 & 9

In April 2001 in response to the Crisis In Crimea Appeal launched by local charity NIICCA, Karin McBride who had been nominated as a WOYLA Women of the Year 2000, decided to use her credentials to promote poetry writing within the local primary schools and raise funds for the charity at the same time. Just over 7 schools entered in the inaugural awards, named The Alison Abraham Poetry Awards. A book containing the children's poems was published and the monies raised from the sale went directly to the charity. This was repeated in 2002 with just over 150 children, parents and teachers attending the awards at Parliament Buildings, Stormont the event again sponsored by local MLA Mr Jim Shannon and a second book was published. Following this The Primary Roadshow was launched, in conjunction with the SEELB - The South Eastern Education & Library Board hosted a series of exhibitions of the children's work in libraries throughout the area. Thousands of pounds have been raised from these two publications with all proceeds going towards easing the suffering of the abandoned and orphaned babies and children in the Crimea.

In 2008 local poet Cameron McIntyre asked AKR Promotions Events headed up by Karin to launch another poetry awards for children, this time encompassing the Primary School Children of Northern Ireland not just focusing on the schools within the Lower Ards & North Down Boroughs. With Titanic Quarter, Jim Shannon MLA & Cameron McIntyre as the main sponsors of the event. With just over 400+ entries it was hosted at Stormont with VIP Guest of Honor DAME MARY PETERS giving out the awards to the children. Since then a third publication called PRIMARY POETRY FOR ALL has hit the bookshelves for the first time in September 2009 in three EASON book stores - Newtownards (where the official launch took place), Belfast and Lisburn. Encouraging the children to embrace the 'lost' art of poetry writing.

2010 will see the first Art Awards & Exhibiton hosted by ARDS ARTS COUNCIL in conjunction with AKR Promotions Events...the closing date is 01 June 2010 and the exhibiton is due to take place in September 2010.