Winter issue 24

December 2016 - Issue 24

ECHO Winter Edition

Letterkenny Youth Information Centre Newsletter 16-18 Port Road, Letterkenny Tel 074-9129640

Europeen Voluntary Service Summer Programme Cycle Against Suicide

BreakOut - Suppo Since September BreakOut has been a very busy group!

We attended the ‘lived lives lost’ exhibition in Buncrana. This exhibition is about suicide and the impact it has on family and the community. The exhibit was a real eye opener and everyone took something away from it.

We organised a sponsored stay awake, which was a major success with all young people having a great time . We had lots of games, movies and food all while managing to fundraise much needed money for BreakOut.

ort for LGBT Youth

We also undertook Peer Leadership Training provided by Belong2 in Dublin.

We have started LGBT awareness sessions including history, rights, stats, gender identity awareness and terminology. There’s nothing more fun than doing some learning and eating pizza. Two of our young people spoke at the launch of the LGBT safe & supportive schools. While we had another speaking at the Youth Work Ireland conference.

Besides all the hard work we had lots of fun doing Come Dine With Me, a walk in Glenveagh and of course, our Christmas parties!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from BreakOut.

World Wide

Voices

The Worldwide Voices group of Donegal Youth Service is working on a project as part of the ‘No Hate Speech Movement Ireland’ to create art, photography and music to promote human rights on and offline. The Worldwide Voices group has been running for over 10 years, and is a multi-ethnic group of young people who are based in Donegal. The No Hate Speech Movement Ireland is part of the wider European No Hate Speech Movement which was started by the Council of Europe.

Since November 2016 the group have been working on this six month project with artist in residence Franck Saucian to create a mobile piece of art based on the topic. The group has also taken part in photography, and music workshops as part of the No Hate Speech Movement with ‘Creativity Creates Change’ facilitators Layla Kuyper and Happymore Mutyoro over the past two months.

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THE EUROPEAN DAY OF LANGUAGES The European Day of Languages is a yearly event held on 26 September to celebrate the linguistic diversity of Europe. It is a time to celebrate the 6,000+ languages spoken around the world, promote language learning and have some multilingual fun!

TIME TO MOVE CAMPAIGN Time to Move is a collection of events for young people organised during October 2016. These activities will introduce you to the hundreds of possibilities through which you can go abroad and take part in an international project, explore Europe or gain experience you need for your future.

All the activities are run by Eurodesk information experts, always ready to have a discussion and help you find the international project most suitable for your needs. Volunteering in another country for a few months? School exchange for a semester?

Internships abroad? We have you covered.

GOODBYE TO OUR EVS CREW! Another year with our fantastic EVS participants came to the end. It was pleasure to work with you all- Irene, Francesco, Gabi and Marika. We hope you havemademanygoodmemoriesandwewouldlike to wish you all the best in the future and remember that Donegal will always be your second home .

A confidential and free service for young people aged 12 and 25 years Teen Talk is a listening ear service suitable for all young people who would like support with any issue they are experiencing, for example: •Friendship and relationship breakdown •Dealing with stress •Support with sexuality •Guidance with life choices •Emotional difficulties •Bullying

Contact Us At:

074 91 29640

DAYBREAK The Daybreak programme continues their work with young people from first year to Junior Certificate. The programme is here to support young people academically on a one to one basis and provide them with life skills for their future. Last year Daybreak had 10 young people complete the programme and achieve great results in their junior cert exams.

Currently there is 11 participants on the programme in Letterkenny and 5 on the outreach programme in Planet Youth Ballybofey . Just recently the young people enjoys some days out for Christmas this involved Go karting , Archery ,airsoft , bowling and laser tag. Our girls group created a beautiful Christmas tree full of their very own handmade decorations.

DONEGAL YOUTH COUNCIL SET TO‘CHALK IT UP’FOR STAND UP WEEK

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Donegal Youth Councillors recently organised LGBT “Chalk It up” events in a schools in the county next week in support of Belong To Stand Up week, a nat is aimed at encouraging young people to stand up against homophobic b other settings.

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The Chalk It Up events were developed here locally by the BreakOUT Donega who have organised events over the last 3 years, and give people the oppor chalk messages of support for young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgende locations in their school.

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TheStandUpAgainstHomophobicBullyingcampaignwaslaunchednationally organisation Belong To and aims to raise awareness and tackle homopho bullying, transphobia and transphobic bullying and help to create positiv support for LGBT people. Schools and youth services across the whole country fun and educational activities next week as part of the initiative.

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Among the many secondary schools in the county who have already co participating in the Chalk It Up events include St Columbas College, Stranorlar, Mulroy College Milford, Magh Ene College Bundoran, Rosses CS Dungloe, Ab and Pobalscoil Gaoth Dobhair.

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Chairperson of the Donegal Youth Council Eamon Connaghan, from Dee explains why the Youth Council wanted to show their support for the campa up week was approaching, we felt that this was a topic that we needed to homophobic bullying is a continuing problem. We felt we needed to let LGB county know that they have support and are not alone.”

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BOOK CLUB Plato’s Cave book & discussion club is about creating a calm, meaningful environment, rich in various types of Irish and international books. Reading is a powerful tool that effectively stimulates young, still developing brains. During each session there is an allocated time for discussion, creative analysis and constructive criticism.

Young people will learn how to identify connections between their own ideas, experiences and knowledge, and a variety of literary and mass media works created by national and international authors, and developers from various cultural communities.

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Letterkenny Town Park was brimming with talent and excitement on Wednesday, August 24th for the 12th annual free‘Party in The Park’event. Huge crowds turned out to enjoy great local bands, games and the festival atmosphere in the sunshine.

The sun was splitting the stones as local bands wowed a large crowd in Letterkenny town park. Phat Kiidz fans were treated to an energetic show by group members DodaJawn,JayKay,andHapzwhoplayedtheirhitsong‘GAAJersey’twicemuchtothe delightofthecrowdwhosangalongbothtimes.14greatlocalbandsandmusiciansin totaltooktothestage,playingawidevarietyofgenresincludingjazz,rockandhip-hop.

Gareth Gibson Information Manager said “This has been an annual event for 12 years now and is a great chance for families of the town to have a day out and appreciate young bands expressing themselves. It takes a lot of work behind the scenes to organise an event like this and the young people, volunteers and staff deserve a lot of credit. Furthermore, working in partnership with the Northwest Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force has benefited our event. All in all, a great day, the young people of the County did themselves proud, yet again” There was something for all of the young people of Donegal on the day. The Hexathlon mini-Olympics proved to be a great success, with the overall winners of the day receiving medals for their incredible abilities. There was also an all day art competition for the more creative types. Last, but not least we can’t forget about the smiling faces on the bouncy castles, and everyone falling off the rodeo bull!

David Donnelly, supervisor of Letterkenny’s parks and open spaces said “From the council’s perspective we welcome this great annual event in the town park. It’s a very positive event for the community that’s well organised, and the park is always very well respected.”

Donegal Youth Service would like to extend its warmest thanks to Donegal County Council, Letterkenny town park, An Garda Síochána, all of the volunteers, vendors, attendees, and everyone else who helped to make this event for the young people of Donegal a huge success. See you all again next year!

POLISH EVENING

Donegal Youth Service held an exciting evening promoting Polish culture as a part of Social Inclusion Week in Donegal. There was Polish music, journey through important moments in Polish history, and tasty food- pierogi, bigos and famous baked cheesecake. We had over 65 guests from all around Donegal county.

GAA family fun day at St. Eunan’s GAA pitch

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT LK DYS had a great opportunity to be a part of the Christmas Spirit LK this year! The Christmas Spirit LK is an Unique Charity Fundraising initiative set up in Letterkenny by a group of Friends from the entertainment industry who got together to raise much needed funds for charities at Christmas Time. Everyone who is involved in this project, gives their time and talent for free, all Money raised goes directly to the Charities.

GOODBYE TO MARTY KEENEY An emotional day in DYS as wee bid a fond farewell to our wonderful colleague Marty Keeney of almost 10 years who’s leaving for pastures newwe are sad to see him go and wish him every success in his new role.

DYS Celebration E v e n tt Young people, parents and youth club leaders gathered in An Grianán Theatre on Thursday the 24th of November for the Donegal Youth Service 2016 Celebration Event. This annual event is an opportunity to highlight and celebrate the diversity of the work which takes place within Donegal Youth Service projects and youth clubs throughout the county, and to recognise the clubs and individuals making a huge impact in their communities.

The evening was hosted by Donegal Youth Service Board member Happymore Mutyoro of the local hip hop group Phat Kiidz, who gave everybody a warm welcome, and joked he would like to work at DYS. The first award of the evening was the ‘Special Recognition of The Year Award’ which was won

by Maria McLaughlin of Glengad Youth Club.

DYS Regional Director Lorraine Thompson then announced the award’s name change to the ‘Orla O’Reilly Special Recognition Award’ in honour of their much beloved and continuously missed colleague Orla O’Reilly who died tragically last year.

The ‘Young Person of the Year Award’ is presented annually to recognise the young people who triumphed over adversity, dedicated themselves to participation, social enterprise, volunteering and altruism. The recipient of this year’s award is Marina Coll, Club Óige Chríost Rí.

The ‘Fair Play Award’ from Youth Work Ireland is presented to just one club nationally andnally and

Donegal Youth Service we position to accept the awa row. This year’s winner is Other awards given o were ‘DYS Volunteer of won by Karen Conlon Anthea McNulty of Pla Club Óige Chríost Rí in Maghe Initiative of The Year Award’. the evening was the‘DYS You This award is presented to th in the most DYS activities, e Club Óige Chríost Rí taking DYS Chairperson Marina C to give an inspiring speech people present that “you a This year’s European Volu Marika, Francesco, Irene and jerseys as a token of appre work and contribution to The crowd were treated t throughout the evening fro talented young people from clubs. The evening kicked o from Club Óige, and a beatif

by Annie Meehan also f Rí. Singer Sinead Doherty beautifully, and Malin Head a traditional tune. Finally joined on stage by Phat Kiid Doda for a surprise perform

ere delighted to be in a ard for the third year in a Planet Youth, Ballybofey. out on the evening The Year’ which was from DYS HQ, and anet Youth, Ballybofey. eroarty received the‘Youth ’. The final presentation of uth Club of the Year Award’. he club which participates events and training, with that award home as well.

Carlin took to the stage h, and to tell the young are why we are all here”. untary Service volunteers d Gabi were given Donegal eciation for all their hard the overall work of DYS. to various performances om some of the incredibly m DYS’s wide ranging youth off with lively Irish dancing ful rendition of ‘Halleluljah’ from Club Óige Chríost y from Planet Youth sang d Youth Club performed y, host Happymore was dz bandmates Jay Kay and mance to end the evening.