Meet some of the volunteers who work at the Foróige Ballyshannon/Bundoran Neighbourhood Youth Project which has been operating for the last 12 years. The project works in conjunction with the Gardaí, social workers, education welfare officers, parents, schools, volunteers and many other agencies to plan and implement specific needs led programmes for young people from 10- 18 years. As most projects have been facing huge cut backs due to the economic times we are in, it has proven extremely difficult to sustain the level of work we do with the budgets we are working with.
Summer is a great time for young people. The days are long and bright, there is no school and possibilities for fun seem endless. However, for many young people the opportunities to enjoy summer activities are limited. This is a time when young people can lose contact with their peers and become disengaged from support systems such as school and communities.
The 2nd annual Symantec 5k road race took place in Ballycoolin, Dublin 15 on Sunday 26th May in aid of Foróige in Blanchardstown. The event was kindly sponsored by Symantec, who were instrumental in organising and facilitating the event which attracted almost 300 participants.
In the past year we’ve heard some awful stories about teenagers in particular who’ve harmed themselves or even taken their own lives as a result of, perhaps among other things, bullying. Cyberbullying got a lot of press coverage because a lot of this trouble took place on social networking sites.
The Foróige Ballyshannon/Bundoran Neighbourhood Youth Project have a wonderful summer programme lined up with local young people getting involved in art, drama, various sports and even surfing! Yes, surfing is back by popular demand.
Big Brother Big Sister youth mentoring programme gives vulnerable teenagers a stronger chance to succeed in life. Foróige, Ireland’s leading youth organisation, is today calling on the Government to save its youth mentoring programme, Big Brother Big Sister, from virtual closure.
