Written by Stephanie Hannelly, Ciarán Roddy and Tomás Skelly
The Foróige Reference Panel aim is to bring forward ideas from our various regions across Ireland for group discussion and make recommendations to the National Council of Foróige on issues that affect young people. A number of representatives from each county are elected at Regional Conferences to attend the meetings. Throughout the year two meetings are held. This year they were held on February 22-24 and October 11-13. Jessica says:
My name is Máirín McGrath, I am 15 and from Newcastle Foróige Club, Co.Tipperary. On Thursday, June 13th as I was studying for my Junior Cert exams, I received a phone call from Foróige HQ. I was informed about a very important invitation from the US Embassy. Immediately excited at the sound of US Embassy I wondered what this invite could be. I was asked if I was available to go to Dublin the following Monday.
Hello everybody! Our names are Adrienne Walsh (I’m a member of Fayz Foróige Club Kiltimagh Co. Mayo) and Jane Doyle (I’m a member of Scarriff Foróige Club, Co. Clare). In January this year we were both elected to Foróige’s Reference Panel along with 50 other young people from across Ireland. Our aim is to bring forward ideas from our various regions for group discussion and make recommendations to the National Council of Foróige on issues that affect young people.
On Saturday 6th April 2013, the newly elected YPAC (Youth Participation Advisory Committee) met for the first time in Dublin City Centre. YPAC will meet approximately four times over the next year to plan, advise and evaluate youth participation across the whole Foróige organisation. In this first meeting, the committee which is made up of 12 young people from around the country as well as Foróige volunteers, staff and members of Senior Management, looked at various aspects of youth participation in the organisation.
I was a member of Foróige’s Youth Participation Advisory Committee for the last year, one of three lucky people elected at a Regional Seminar. 'YPAC' is a committee of young people from around Ireland, as well as Foróige staff, volunteers and Foróige Senior Management, who meet about four times during the year. We plan, advise and evaluate youth participation across Foróige.
