Press release 12/02/2018
Galway Minister Launches Leading Irish Youth Organisation Foróige in Philadelphia
First International Foróige Club supporting focus on engaging young members of the Diaspora
Youth development organisation Foróige launched in Philadelphia yesterday, Saturday 10th February 2018. Foróige Philadelphia will be the organisation's first international club.
The launch took place in the Irish Immigration Centre of Philadelphia, the home of the Foróige Club, and was attended by Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Ciarán Cannon T.D., Foróige National Chairperson, Sandra McIntyre and Chairman of the Board of the Irish Immigration Centre, John O'Malley.
This pilot collaboration between the Irish Immigration Centre and Foróige will serve as a model to engage Irish American youth and give many more young people the opportunity to connect with their Irish heritage in a contemporary way. The pilot includes Foróige's suite of developmental programmes, such as Leadership for Life and Civic Engagement.
Foróige Chairperson, Sandra McIntyre said “Foróige was honoured to have been approached by the Irish Immigration Centre to work in partnership to grow and reinvigorate their youth engagement programme in line with the objectives of Ireland's National Diaspora Policy - Global Irish. Much of adolescence is about belonging and this launch is about celebrating the opportunity that Foróige and the Irish Immigration Centre are giving Irish American young people to belong, not only to a Foróige Club, but to Ireland, and the Global Irish Family. I am so proud to be representing Foróige here in Philadelphia. This partnership proves the international appeal of the Foróige ethos and it’s empowerment of young people.”
Speaking at the launch, John O’Malley, IIC said, “The Irish Immigration Centre is proud to be the home of the first Foróige club located outside of Ireland. Part of our organization's mission is to help strengthen our community. Our partnership with Foróige helps achieve that goal by allowing us to reach young people, some of whom may not have been exposed to their Irish heritage through Irish dancing or youth GAA programs, and connect them to their heritage and today's Ireland. We are grateful for Foróige's partnership with us and the support and encouragement for this initiative we have received from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Welcoming the launch Minister Cannon added, “The Irish Immigration Centre is a vital resource for the vibrant Irish community in Philadelphia and I’m delighted today to officially launch this new, innovative collaboration between the IIC and Foróige, which has broadened and deepened the Centre’s youth engagement in a most meaningful way. I congratulate all the young members of Foróige Philadelphia for their work to grow and develop their club. I hope that this becomes a template for other Irish-American communities across the US, to consider starting their own Foróige club”.
Ends
For further information please contact:
Helena Clarke, Foróige Marketing Communications Officer
087 632 5138 / 01 630 1732
About Foróige
Foróige is the leading youth organisation in Ireland. The charity works with over 50,000 young people and 5,500 adult volunteers annually, through a network of more than 650 youth clubs & cafés, 160 targeted projects and national programmes such as Entrepreneurship (NFTE), Health & Wellbeing, Citizenship and Entrepreneurship.
Foroige.ie
Twitter.com/Foroige
Facebook.com/Foroige
The Irish Immigration Center
The IIC is a community resource center that has been serving the needs of the Irish and Irish-American region since 1998. Our mission is to strengthen the local Irish Community by providing direct support services and guidance to individuals and groups, while also offering resources and guidance to other local organisations. The IIC is supported by grant funding from the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme ($170,900 in 2017).
Here is the website, facebook, instagram and twitter;
www.instagram.com/irish_immigration_philly/
