ECHO newsletter Spring edition

ECHO

Spring Edition 2019

European Solidarity Corps Celebration Event 2019 European Youth Week And more...

Letterkenny Youth Information Centre Newsletter 16-18 Port Road, Letterkenny Tel 074-9129630

staff members

Gareth Gibson

Katarzyna Kurzeja

Dominic Mc Glinchey

Youth Information Manager

Youth Information Officer

YIC Youth Worker

Emma Wilkie

Siobhan O’Connor

Maria Gnad

CE Assistant Youth Information Officer

CE Assistant Youth Information Officer

ESC Volunteer

contents ESC VOLUNTEERING EXPERIENCE 1 DONEGAL YOUNG CARERS GROUP 7

CELEBRATION EVENT 2019 9

EUROPEAN YOUTH WEEK 13

ESC VOLUNTEERING EXPERIENCE With a little over 1 month left of our ESC volunteering experience, we are having quite a busy time. Although it seems things are beginning to precipitate, we are enjoying every activity to the fullest. Here is a short insight in our day by day life!

Walking around Letterkenny on a sunny day There is nothing more precious than a sunny day here. The city just brightens up with colour & we get the chance to experience the most beautiful sunsets ever!

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Home for the winter holidays “It felt cosy to be home for a few weeks. Christmas time has always been family time and for New Year’s Eve, I had a blast at the Romanian seaside.”

Maria C

“After Christmas, Marta and I brought some food from Spain and we cooked a Spanish omelette for Maria C, it was so tasty (the picture below talks for itself).”

Maria G

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Snow in Letterkenny From you are afraid of, you cannot escape! All joking aside, we had a proper Irish winter. Everything was white like in a fairy tale!

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ESC midway training In the beginning of February, all 3 of us went to ESC midway training.

We got the chance to meet other 16 volunteers all across Ireland & to experience non-formal learning on how to better focus on what will happen after our volunteering is over.

Trip to Limerick “End of February brought an exciting time! I got the chance to spend a few days in Limerick. The commute was long enough, but the city was lovely, so it was definitively worth the trip!�

Maria C

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Food experience Enjoying some irish warm meals like meat with mashed potatoes, vegetables and gravy it’s been grand for us foodies. We’ve had our share of spanish dinners and romanian dishes as well.

Full Irish Breakfast Trip to the Wild Atlantic Way “This march I’ve enjoyed some time with my family as well. And if I don’t go home, then home comes to me. We went to Achill island and Connemara, etc. this time, and had the opportunity to play our part as tourists, ask for directions, traditions, it was a wonderful roadtrip.”

Marta

Croagh Patrick

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St. Patrick’s day St. Patrick’s day was a Sunday. As a public holiday day and most celebrated occasion in Ireland, there are parades and festivities.

It commemorates the arrival of St. Patrick in the 5th century to Ireland and that he converted many to Christianity. So we went to Derry for the craic.

It was the highlight of our day as over 600 participants from local schools, youth clubs and arts and cultural organisations took part in the parade.

We were also in the Guildhall, and watched irish dance.

For more blog posts visit our blog online!!

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DONEGAL YOUNG CARERS GROUP Donegal Young Carers Group has

Donegal such as Letterkenny,

been busy throughout the year.

Milford, Ramelton, all over

They have taken part in many

Inishowen such as Carndonagh,

groups including team building

Clonmany, Buncrana, Fahan and

activities, sports activities, art

now with the set up of a new group

workshops, Party in the park. They

based in the Bluestack

also took part in the 2nd Young

special needs foundation in

carers Ireland 2 day respite activity

Donegal Town, members from

break in June 2018 at Kilnacrott,

Donegal town and Ballyshannon.

The Cavan Centre Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan where the group met

The Donegal Young carers group

with all the other Young carers

has regular group meetings; Fun

groups from all over Ireland to

day trips and an annual respite trip

take part in team building activities

with over 30 existing members and

such as young carers Ireland

are welcoming more members.

workshop facilitated by Young

Please get in contact with us for

carers Ireland staff, Meet and great

more information.

with the children’s ombudsman Niall Muldoo at the Cavan Centre.

Also the Donegal young carers fit4life group has been running

Also other day trips took part such

weekly with the group taking part

as trips to the Glen Adventure

in physical activity and develop

Centre at Glen, Carrigart,

healthy habits and lifestyles. The

Co.Donegal.

group has a steady footfall of 10-20 people each week.

The group now have members from all over the County of

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Fatima was named The Young Carer of the Year during the Celebration Event

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CELEBRATION EVENT 2019 Donegal Youth Service’s annual ‘Celebration Event’ took place this year on Thursday the 11th of April in An Grianán Theatre. The annual event aims to highlight the achievements of young people, volunteers, youth clubs and Donegal Youth Service Projects from the past year.

This year the theme was ‘The Greatest Showman’ and it was chosen because the message of the film is something that is very close to our hearts. Being unique&different is portrayed in a positive way and society should be able to accept everyone as they are.

Ryan performing at the hall

Some assistants

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Maria and Katie

Three amazing dancers

Jimmy and Lee

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More awesome prize winners

Our participants nailed it at the stage

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The three ESC participants got a fancy shirt

Kai, the presenter, and Lorraine

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EUROPEAN YOUTH WEEK European Youth Week takes place every two years. It celebrates and promotes activities targeted at young people through events organised in all countries participating in the Erasmus+ programme. In addition to the Brussels flagship events, hundreds of activities and events were organised locally. The ‘Democracy and Me’ Workshop in YIC Letterkenny was one of them.

It took place on the 2nd of May in the Youth Information Centre, and was facilitated by me, with the help of Maria, Marta, Zoe, Emma and Kasia. The young people present were in for an afternoon of interactive activities about the meaning of democracy and the ways that people can take part in the decisions that affect the way their community is run.

Dear Democracy The session started with a wee debate on what democracy is. The word “democracy” is one of the most recognized and misunderstood terms in the English language, therefore it is safe to say that truly understanding “democracy” begins with questions and conversation.

Find Democracy The goal of this activity was to see into the essence of democracy: realizing that one does not have to go far to find democracy, it is here around us.

Every participant had to “find democracy”.

They could use whatever material they wanted from the ones provided.

After everyone was finished, we did a mock voting process of their creations.

The first 3 with the most votes won cool prizes such as travel books, diaries, tea mugs and a 20 euro One4all gift voucher. Needless to say everyone was excited about that!

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Zoey, Maria C, Kasia and Emma

Some of the assistants creating

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Laura and other participants won some amazing prizes!

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Listening ear Providing a listening ear, support and guidance service for Young people who need someone to talk to.

On-going.

Donegal Young Carers Providing support for Young people who have extra caring responsibilities. Bi-weekly on saturdays 2-4pm.

World Wide Voices Providing a welcoming environment to people from all over the world, including training and support programs.

Every Wednesday 6-8pm.

Volunteers We welcome the support of volunteers. Garda vetting and training is provided.

Next steps

What we do Fit for Life Sports programs to help everyone become more active. Every Tuesday at the Aura 5-6pm.

Tea and Tunes

A program to help sixth class students make a succesful move to secondary school.

Art group Helping young people to have fun and enjoy art in a relaxing enviroment. Every Thursday 4.30-6pm.

Help with relationships

Offering Young people an opportunity to perform music with their friends. Every Thursday 6-8pm.

Helping young people to understand the difference between a good and an abusive relationship.

On-going.

Leadership training

Family support

Opportunities to practice and learn leadership skills and to have your voice heard in society. Every Friday 3.30-5pm

Working with families and linking with other services to provide support to young people. On-going.

Maths Some extra help with maths at junior cert and leaving cert level.

Every Friday night 5-7pm.

Outreach Training Workshops offered to schools and community groups.

Holiday Programmes Running a month long summer project and providing fun activities during mid-term breaks.

Drop-In Service A free space for young people to meet friends in a comfortable safe environment. The drop-in is supervised by friendly staff and volunteers.

The drop-in space is open: Mon-Tue 12- 6pm

C

Contact us on: @theloftlk 16-18 Port Road, Letterkenny

074 91 29630

The LOFT is jointly managed by Donegal Youth Service and Forรณige and is funded by TUSLA.

Wed-Thu 12-8pm Fri 12-10pm Sat 2-6pm

16-18 Port Road, Letterkenny, Ireland 074 - 912 9630 yicletterkenny@donegalyouthservice.ie

@yicletterkenny