I found out about Foróige at the end of the school year in 2007 when I was in 1st year. Someone came to my school to tell us about the summer programmes being run at the Foróige Tallaght Youth Services. I booked a place on the ‘Ready, Steady, Cook’ programme.
“My wee girl Leona is now three and I couldn’t imagine my life without her – and I couldn’t imagine what my life would have been like without the Foróige Teen Parents Support Programme either. I remember when I first got involved thinking I just couldn’t do it on my own, but now I know that we will be OK and that I can make a better life for me and my daughter.”
My name is Paul Hyland, I’m 17 years old and from County Mayo and I have been involved with Foróige for the past 5 years. My time in Foróige has been super and this is for one simple reason, I got totally involved. There are chances for young people everywhere and you might hear some people say that there is nothing to do in Foróige bar the discos but I know this is one of the biggest myths out there regarding Foróige.
“Thanks to Foróige, I’ve completely turned my life around. One of the lads I used to hang out with is in prison at the moment; one of them is going to prison next month. If I had stayed on the path I was on, I would have been in prison now. Today, I volunteer at the Foróige WAY Project and mentor young teenagers who are where I was four years ago. It’s easier for them to look up to someone their own age and I hope they’ll learn from my experience.
Two years ago in Foróige, somebody said to me “Live your Dreams” and since then I’ve really tried to do that. Where there are dreams there is hope and something to aspire to.
I’m Séamus Hogan, I’m 18 and from Curraha in County Meath. I LOVE sport and I’m in my first year of college studying Occupational Therapy in Belfast.
Foróige’s Big Brother Big Sister programme has changed my life for the better! I’m more confident and happier too. Me and my Big Brother Ronan will be friends forever. We went Manchester where I got to see Man City beat Blackburn in the footie. It was amazing! Not the result I wanted for sure, but it was still one of the best things I’ve ever experienced. I’ve Ronan to thank for that. I’ve just been made captain of my football team which was always a dream of mine.
