Development education strategy for Ireland vital, conference told
- Young People: Connected, Respected and Empowered: A conference on development education and youth -
As global citizens, young people have a vital role to play in tackling poverty and injustice, promoting peace and democracy and safeguarding human rights. That was the message emerging from Young People: Connected, Respected and Empowered: A conference on development education and youth, which took place in Dublin Castle today (08.10.14).
The event – organised by the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) – was opened by Minister Sean Sherlock TD, Minister of State with Special Responsibility for ODA, Trade Promotion and North South co-operation, and showcased young people and youth organisations leading the way in global youth work. It also looked to devise a roadmap for the youth sector on how best to maximise learning, participation, and the impact of Development Education.
Speaking at the conference Valerie Duffy, NYCI development education coordinator, said: “NYCI and the Irish Development Education Association will work together on establishing a Taskgroup to develop and articulate a development education strategy for the youth sector from 2015. This will inform Irish Aid’s strategy for the development education as well as IDEA’s strategic plan and NYCI’s work.”
Minister Sean Sherlock TD, said: “Irish Aid invests in education about overseas development in Ireland in order to provide students, and the public more generally, with an opportunity to understand their rights and responsibilities as global citizens and their potential to effect positive change.
“Today’s event is a great opportunity to hear the views of our young people on how development education in youth work can help them to feel connected, respected, and empowered. We want to encourage our young people to become more effective and engaged as global citizens so that they can play a role in tackling poverty and injustice, promoting peace and democracy and safeguarding human rights.
“Irish Aid will continue to support the youth sector to help create more effective and engaged citizens.”
Young people from Celtic Youth Bray also presented on the day, sharing their experiences of development education and global youth work. Panel discussions looked at how young people can be more connected, respected and empowered to take action with panelists from Irish Aid, the Department of Education and Skills, Concern, the Irish Development Education Association, the National Youth Council of Ireland, ECO-UNESCO taking part.
ENDS
Contact:
Daniel Meister, Communications Manager at NYCI on 087 781 4903, 01-478 4122 or communications@nyci.ie
Notes to editors:
National Youth Council of Ireland
NYCI is a membership-led umbrella organisation that represents and supports the interests voluntary youth organisations and uses its collective experience to act on issues that impact on young people.
www.youth.ie
Schedule:
Young People: Connected, Respected, & Empowered – Roundtable on Development Education (Global Youth Work) & Youth
George’s Hall, Dublin Castle
October 8th 2014
09:30 Registration
10:00 Welcome by Mary Cunningham, National Youth Council of Ireland
10:05 Presentation by Celtic Youth Bray
10:20 Minister Sean Sherlock TD, Minister of State at Department of Foreign Affairs with Special Responsibility for ODA, Trade Promotion and North South co-operation
10:30 Dr. Momodou Sallah, De Montfort University, Leicester
10:50 Dr. Hilary Tierney, Department of Applied Social Studies in Maynooth University
11:00 Q&A chaired by Mary Cunningham, National Youth Council of Ireland
11:10 Break
11:35 Roundtable discussion
13:00 Lunch
13:45 Mr. Tony Gaynor, Department of Education and Skills
13:55 Ms. Elaine Nevin, ECO-UNESCO
14:05 Roundtable discussion and feedback
15:25 Panel Q&A chaired by Dr. Hilary Tierney
Michael Doorly – Concern
Frank Geary – Irish Development Education Association
Elaine Nevin – ECO-UNESCO
Tony Gaynor – Department of Education and Skills
Margaret Ryan - Irish Aid
15:50 Reflections on the day
Dr. Momodou Sallah, De Montfort University, Leicester
Mary Cunningham, National Youth Council of Ireland
16:00 End of event