The consultation process for the National Youth Strategy being developed by the Department for Children and Youth Affairs is now underway. This is an important milestone for young people and we are asking for your co-operation and engagement with this process as you are ideally placed to ensure that young people and those working with young people have an input into the development of the National Youth Strategy.
About the National Youth Strategy
Volunteers from across Ireland are hoping to raise vital funds for their local Foróige clubs and projects in the run up to the festive season. The hard working volunteers are raising much needed funds thanks to Tesco, which is hosting a national bag pack for the charity across 79 of its stores nationwide. Foróige volunteers – as well as young people involved in the organisation’s clubs and projects - will be on hand helping shoppers pack their groceries in the Tesco stores in nationally on Saturday December 13th.
Foróige volunteer Annette Woolley has won a Volunteer Ireland Award in the category of Youth and Children. Annette is a role model, leader and mentor to countless children and teenagers that she volunteers with. She founded and coordinates 3 multi award winning youth clubs in Jobstown and Tallaght. They are the MC Teens, Kreative Kidz and the Little Monsters clubs which cater to young people from 7 to 18 yrs old. Annette delivers leadership and entrepreneurship programmes to young people and not only that, she is also the Chairperson of Foróige's Council in Tallaght!
Your Club can now start updating and adding information to the online affiliation system. In fact, two Clubs have already done this and have hit the affiliation button, they are Tourmakeady Foróige Club in Mayo and Cathedral Cairde Foróige Club in Cork. Well done to both of them for being on the ball! If you are no longer a Club Leader, please ask the Club to indicate on the system who the new Club Leader is. If your Club may not be reopening, please contact a Foróige Regional Youth Officer/Staff Person for help. Access the Club Management System here.
At this time of year, many Clubs and Projects are seeking to bring in new volunteer Leaders. As you know, leaders are the key to good developmental and enjoyable experiences for young people in our Clubs. About 1,000 new volunteer Leaders join Foróige each year, mainly recruited by existing Leaders. Most people who get involved in Clubs do so because another Leader has asked them. We say "Yes" to people we trust more easily than to strangers. Here is some advice on how to find more Leaders. It's not always easy - but this is what experts recommend.
Read our interview with Gerry McDonald, Foróige's Head of Training. Gerry has worked with young people in Foróige for over 30 years. Gerry will retire later on this year and has carried out exceptional youth work throughout his career. He has championed youth participation and non-formal education. In this interview, Gerry shares anecdotes and words of wisdom for young people, volunteers and youth workers. It is an inspiring piece and everyone can take something from it.
