SpunOut.ie Blog
October, 2008
Youth Day 2008
Blog: Ireland's flagship event in the run up to European Youth Week, Youth Day, was an unqualified success.
SpunOut.ie Youth Boarder, Paddy Duffy, reports on the hoopla of Youth Day 2008:
Imagining the future: mad capoeira skills, workshops on everything from volunteering abroad to composing songs and making comics, and about 300 young people from all over the country: Ireland's flagship event in the run up to European Youth Week (EYW), Youth Day, was an unqualified success.
The central theme of the day, organised by Ireland's national agency Leargas, focused around the global village and specifically the town square where most of the action happened.
Over the course of the day the town square consistently regenerated, from ye olde medieval times through to the present day and way on into the future. But besides, there was the graffiti city, where young people got to get their message across through the medium of spray paint; the photo booth, where groups were pictured with posters they made on things that would make their future better; an online Eurodesk consultation where young people could have their say on the way Europe involves them in decision making processes, and a host of youth groups presenting their respective projects at stalls. And that's not even including the workshops!
Everybody on the day had the choice to do two workshops, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, and the choice ranged from drumming and drama to volunteering and wall climbing. One group put together a time capsule of all the things they considered important to say about the present, and what we want to tell future generations about ourselves, while another were given the task of composing a song that represents their experiences as young people, including musical accompaniment and lyrics derived from both classic pop songs and their own heads, within about half an hour. Though seemingly impossible, the groups handled their task with aplomb. They were in tune and all.
A special word has to go to the capoeira workshop too. For the uninitiated, capoeira is a Brazilian martial art and it is awesome. Unsurprising then, that their workshop was plenty popular amongst the participants and their demonstrations of back flips, high kicks and general agility were awe inspiring. The professional instructors weren't bad either.
There was also the now fabled Criss Cross Group (you have to do a Zorro type motion with your hands when you say that, by the way) who did roving consultations based on three issues: youth participation, image and suicide. The Criss Cross Group is, as you might suspect, an amalgam of different youth groups across the country who came together to do team building residentials and the group from which Ireland's delegates to Brussels in November have been chosen, and they'd a unique way of carrying out their consultation. They split into groups with different coloured hats: for example, black hats asked questions about the negative elements of the issues raised, yellow was positive, blue co-ordinated the answers and so-forth. As a result, their findings were as comprehensive as they were interesting and insightful.
After everybody showed off what they learned in their workshops there came the final proclamations. “The Proclaimers” was a workshop where the young people involved set out their visions of Europe and presented them as punchy one-liners, bellowed out in the style of a ye olde town cryer.
To wrap up the day, yours truly read out the final proclamation after which I presented it to one of my fellow future delegates in Brussels, Adam from Bray Youth Service, whilst being carried out in a King Chair wearing a robe. This actually happened.
By: Paddy Duffy
Learn more about European Youth Week.
Don't miss out - get film-making!
Blog: Be inventive, quirky or humorous... with the Your Place video clip comp.
There is still loads of time to enter this brilliant video clip competition folks! It's an amazing chance to get inventive and also be in with a chance to win a serious cash prize thanks to the Credit Union in Ireland and also in conjunction with your one and only SpunOut.ie.
The video clip competition asks entrants to record a 60 second video clip on what makes their place special. 'My Place' might be your local village, town, city, your sports club, your bedroom or anywhere you like. It's up to you to decide!
Entries to the competition can be recorded on your mobile phone, camcorder, digital camera or any other way you like. Be inventive, quirky or humorous… but make sure you don't use any inappropriate or copyrighted content and that you get permission from anyone featured in the clip.
Now on to the serious stuff . . . the prize!
A total of €10,000 in cash prizes is available to be won. First Prize is € 4,000; Second Prize € 2,500; Third Prize € 1,500. Visitors to www.yourplace.ie will have a chance to vote for their favourite video. The owner of the most popular video will win a Viewers' Choice Award – a cash prize of €2,000.
Entries will be hosted on a dedicated You Tube page. The closing date for submission of entries is 31st October 2008. Remember your video must be no longer than 60 seconds or it will be exempt.
Additional information on the competition is available at www.yourplace.ie.
SpunOut.ie at the Young Social Innovators Advocates Meeting
Blog: Young people speak out on video about social issues and making a difference with YSI.
On the 6th October 2005, an intrepid group of SpunOutters (er, me and a camera) made the trip to Dawson Street in old Dublin town for a special meeting of the Young Social Innovators new group of advocates.
These sixteen strong Planeteers of the modern age spent the day discussing how they can highlight social justice issues in their area and generally build on their Transition Year experience of being young social innovators.
When they weren't discussing this in the group, they were discussing it with me, taking two of them at a time to talk through their project in much the same way a doctor would with a patient, but with a camera instead of a stethoscope. In an attempt to test their brevity muscles to the limit, I only gave them thirty seconds to sum up their project and all of the wonderful things they've worked on as part of Young Social Innovators. It was a tough job, but they did it with ease.
Then again, compared to some of the amazing things they've done in Transition Year and beyond, talking to camera is a piece of cake.
Whether it's battling for many, many months to get a youth cafe up and running in Kildare, raising the figures of young people wearing seatbelts on school transport by 75% or running a successful awareness campaign on the barbaric practice of sex trafficking, these young advocates for social justice are well used to tough challenges, as their videos attest.
Find out more about Young Social Innovators and how YOU can get involved:http://www.youngsocialinnovators.ie/
By: Paddy Duffy, SpunOut.ie Youth Board
Spun out on the dancefloor
Blog: The SpunOut.ie crew rocked out at the Irish Web Awards.
Hey SpunOutters,
Last Saturday night the cosmic SpunOut.ie crew went to Dublin on the choo choo train to attend the Irish Web Awards (we were short-listed in the Education category).
As some of you may know, we don't do things by half here in SpunOut.ie HQ. We decided to buy some funky psychedelic wigs and wear our favourite SpunOut.ie t-shirts with goofy jumbo sunglasses to the awards.
William, Emily, Ian, Ruairi and Susan rock on!
We didn't win our category (sob!!) but we had loads of fun.
The thing is, because we're all a bit wacky and as we’re usually seen to be in fits of laughter, you might think we sit in our office on Quay Street, on comfy beanbags, looking out at the beautiful scenery, drinking the tae all the day long... but we actually work hard, every day.
We are passionate about what we do. It's oOOooozing out of our pores. We are lucky enough to love our jobs, as hard as they may be sometimes. (Serious apologies about the corniness factor!) But what it all boils down to, is the fact that we all put out hearts and souls into making SpunOut.ie the very best it can be.
So fun nights out, like the Irish Web Awards are badly deserved! ;)
Check out the video: http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=
We're also up for the Irish Healthcare Awards this coming Thursday in Dublin. Fingers and tootsies crossed for us.
Love and peace,
The SpunOut.ie crew
SpunOut.ie joins forces with the GAA for World Mental Health Day
Blog: GAA stars urge young males to speak out.
SpunOut.ie in association with Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim GAA football teams are urging young males to speak out about their problems. Using an innovative and new approach to reach young people, all three team captains and players are featured in a specially produced short video talking about mental health and wellbeing. The videos can be viewed at SpunOut.ie (see links below) as part of a campaign to celebrate World Mental Heath Day on 10th October 2008.
-Sligo GAA - Speaking up with SpunOut.ie
-Leitrim GAA - Speaking up with SpunOut.ie
-Donegal GAA- Speaking up with SpunOut.ie
Inspirational former Donegal football captain Neil Gallagher was joined by fellow Donegal players Michael Murphy and Rory Cavanagh to encourage young people, and in particular young males, to speak up about their problems. Neil Gallagher commented:
"Life isn't always easy. There's a lot of pressure to be happy and to succeed. Sometimes it gets us all down. The important thing to remember is that we can get through the tough times but it's vital that we talk to people when in need. Talking to a friend, an older brother or sister, a family friend, a GP or a confidential support service are all options. SpunOut.ie is a brilliant resource for when you need help or just want to find out information on some of the issues that affect us all, whether it be sex, relationships, drugs or alcohol."
Ian Howley, 24, is a Project Worker for SpunOut.ie and is currently working to promote positive mental health and suicide prevention in the North West as part of The Dormant Accounts funded 'Get SpunOut.ie' outreach initiative. Ian, who himself went through depression and suicide attempts in his teens commented:
"A partnership with Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim GAA was specifically set up to target young men who find it hard to talk about their problems. There is this perception that if you are seen to have problems or worries, that you are weak. This is not the case. Everyone goes through tough times at some stage in their lives and today we are encouraging young people and especially young males to speak up. We want young people to use SpunOut.ie as a tool to do this and to encourage them to do it in their day to day lives."
About us:
SpunOut.ie can be accessed via the internet and mobile phones, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, ensuring young people always have access to information and support if and when they need it. The website provides 100's of factsheets on all aspects of youth health, lifestyle and citizenship including drugs, alcohol, sexual health, mental health, environment, work, education and much more. SpunOut.ie signposts young people to services nationally, has a Samaritans email support service, dynamic moderated discussion forums, is a space to publish news, views and opinion pieces, as well as comments, videos, photos and art. It is also a platform for young people to engage with the national media, with politicians and with decision makers on health and social policy.
SpunOut.ie is a recipient of a National Health Service Innovation Award, an Eircom Golden Spider Award for 'Best Charity Website', and has been recently shortlisted for the Irish Web Awards and the Irish Healthcare Awards. It has received widespread praise from young people as well as the media, parents, youth and health professionals and leading decision makers.
SpunOut.ie will continue to work on suicide prevention and mental health promotion as part of a nationwide social marketing campaign. Young people, parents or teachers can get involved or find out more by logging on to www.SpunOut.ie.
Leitrim GAA team members.
If you need to talk to someone right now then contact one of these organisations for confidential support 24 hours a day- no matter your age or where you are.
Samaritans PHONE: 1850 609090
(Northern Ireland PHONE: 08457 909090)
Email: jo@samaritans.org
Web: www.samaritans.org
Samaritans provide confidential, non-judgemental support, 24 hours a day for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide.
ChildLine FREEPHONE: 1800 66 66 66
Talk to ChildLine online.
Web: www.childline.ie
Childline is a 24-hour a day service for young people up to 18. Childline offer support to young people through their listening service over the phone and through the website. You can call Childline for a chat or to talk about any problems you might have.
Click here for other organisations that can help.
If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide or self harm, you should immediately contact your local doctor or go to the A&E department of the nearest hospital. The doctors and hospitals in your area will be listed in the Golden Pages: www.goldenpages.ie.
SpunOut.ie short-listed for yet another award!
Blog: We're shortlisted for an Irish Healthcare Award 2008.
More good news for SpunOut.ie - we’ve been short-listed for an Irish Healthcare Award 2008 under the ‘Best use of Information Technology’ category. The awards, run by The Irish Medical Times, recognise innovative use of information technology in a healthcare context to improve efficiencies in the health service and deliver better patient care.
This news follows our recent short-listing for an Irish Web Award 2008, demonstrating that SpunOut.ie is at the top of the game when it comes to new developments in using the web to engage, support and empower young people.
Success in either or both of these awards would follow previous award successes. This recognition is the result of several years hard slog by dedicated staff, volunteers, advisors, supporters and site users throughout the country.
A huge and warm thank you to everyone who continues to help SpunOut.ie grow and prosper. Let’s hope we can bag the awards and continue our hard work towards improving the wellbeing of young people throughout Ireland. Mighty stuff!
