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SpunOut.ie Blog
February, 2012
Funky Seomra this Paddy's Day
March 17th fun without the piss up.
Image by TOTORORO.RORO on Flickr
Funky Seomra is an alcohol and drug FREE nite club held once a month in the RDS, Dublin! (There's a Funky Seomra group in Galway that hold events sometimes too). It's for people 18 and over. And it is FUN! The next big bash is happenning on MARCH 17th.
Come along on Paddy's Day to dance! Check out the cool chill out spaces! Get your face painted! Try drumming! Play games! Get a massage! Enjoy the craic! Meet new people! Let loose!
Entry: €15
More info: dancefree.ie and Funky Seomra on Facebook
Young, drinking cheap and living it large
Competition: Win techy stuff and get published!
Image by striatic on Flickr
Think Ireland has a drink problem?
Got views on dirt cheap booze?
Like getting all creative and need a bit of direction?
The 'Let's Talk About Drugs' National Media Awards are what you need to know about so!
Write a newspaper article, draw a cartoon strip, record an audio feature or film/animate a video about drugs or alcohol and you could WIN a Netbook AND have your work published or broadcast!
Create original features based on 1 of the 2 official themes:
Theme 1: Underage Drinking – Is Pricing the Only Solution?
Theme 2: Drug Education in Schools – Are We Doing Enough?
Deadline: March 30th
More info and application: 'Let's Talk About Drugs' National Media Awards
Worried about someone's alcohol or drug use
What work experience with SpunOut is really like
Laid back, welcoming, buzzing...
Image by jelene on Flickr
The SpunOut experience....
Wow it's been 2 weeks already! All I can say is if you have any interest in journalism, photography, media, computers, the internet, tea, basically anything, you'll find tonnes of things to do at SpunOut headquarters. I was really lucky that I came across their magazine otherwise who knows what I'd be doing these past two weeks, probably photocopying for somebody.
It was all you could want from work experience. I learned what it's like to be an actual employee not just a work experience novelty, which is really what work experience is all about, learning what it's like in the work place. Everyone's really chilled and the atmosphere is just what you'd expect to find. Don't even get me started on the view from the office. That was probably one of my favorite things (if you're curious check out the picture on Facebook). It's a place that facilitates creativity more then anything. Creativity in any form. Whether that's through writing, photography, maybe you love website design, seriously the world is your oyster. If you're not really feeling it today, take a stroll around Temple Bar, pull up a bean bag by the window, take a tea break, that's the kind of thing that goes on.
I'll take you through some of the things I did while with SpunOut. First was the meeting with the minister for Children and Youth Affairs (if you've read my previous article you know how that went - it was definitely an experience and a great opportunity). Then came drafting and re-drafting different articles on topics of my choice, taking photos/videos all around Dublin city, distributing SpunOut magazines to different shops (A LOT more fun than it sounds), and generally getting a feel for what it takes to run a magazine and website like SpunOut. What's really invaluable is the advice available to you from people who've been through all different aspects of journalism, media, management, editing, you name it. Really make the most of it! Laid-back, welcoming, buzzing are all word I'd use to describe SpunOut.
That basically sums up my experience, but I'll go on even though I know I'm repeating myself. Everything about my 2 weeks there was whatever I wanted it to be, I was given all the tools to do what I pleased and then let on my way. If you are thinking of doing work experience with SpunOut (which you should be) then consider this: no one will be kicking your ass to do something with your time so you must have some form of self motivation because believe me everything is there for the taking, all it takes is a little imagination and a touch of initiative.
All I can say is thanks to the whole SpunOut team, miss you lot already!
Viva Ferguson
Find out more about work experience with SpunOut!
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Lads love STI checks
Boys, you know you want to read this!
Image by bark on Flickr
Get screened.
Get treated.
Get on with your life.
The IFPA, the sex-perts in Ireland, want men to know this:
“The vast majority of sexually transmitted infections have no symptoms, so in most cases, the only way to know if you have a sexually transmitted infection is to get tested. Testing is quick and painless. Being diagnosed with most sexually transmitted disease is not a cause for panic. You will be treated quicker than you would be for a sore throat. For example the treatment for Chlamydia is 4 tablets in 1 day."
Watch this vid to find out more about keeping your mickey mighty:
1 stop sex info/ advice/ services shop: Irish Family Planning Association
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Wishing you safe AND good sex (now, later, or with yourself... whatever)!
- The Spunout Team
Beat bullying opportunity
Participants wanted for new RTE series.
Image by Yo, adolescente: Memorias de mis 16 on Flickr
Bullying in Ireland is a real problem today.
- Have you ever been bullied or been a bully?
- Know what it's like to get beat up, cyber bullied, harassed by text, or made to feel like you're worthless?
- Do you want to move beyond this really tough time in your life?
The opportunity
In a new series for RTÉ, Clinical Psychologist, David Coleman wants to offer his expertise and therapeutic support to a number of young people who have been affected by bullying - either as a victim or as a bully. As well as offering counselling, David will use practical steps in an attempt to help teens and pre-teens gain perspective on their bullying experiences and show them ways to build their self-esteem.
Keen?
Get your parent or legal guardian to contact (yes, it's gotta be the folks, we checked!):
Call/Text: 087 416 4998
Email: info@firebrand.ie
Related articles
What to do if you're being bullied by text!
Roll on spring
Celebrate springtime, Celtic style!
Image by Pink Sherbert Photography on Flickr
While our fingertips may be numb with the current Siberian snap in the air, believe it or not, it's springtime, Celtic style! (Cue daffodils to start bursting up like mad wee yellow men!) February 1st marks Imbolc or St. Brigid's Day a celebration or hearth and home.
SpunOut is happily springing forward with a few exciting thoughts!
- We're about to welcome 2 new people to our Team! woooooooooooo!
- Our mobile FIND HELP in IRELAND app is about to launch! wooooooooooo!
- Our Facebook fan base crossed the 19,000 fan mark! woooooooooooooooooo!
Are you looking forward to...
A good read?
The DL on meeting the Minister This week, representatives of SpunOut.ie were engaged in very intense discussions with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs...
A good eat?
Pancakes are good for the soul! Is it Christmas? Is it my birthday? No, it’s PANCAKE TUESDAY...
Something cool to do with SpunOut this spring?
Email info@spunout.ie with your name, availability and interests to express interest in work experience or volunteering!
A fresh perspective?
Finding flowers in the urban jungle If you are living in a city or town, it’s not always easy to get out in nature...
A good job?
Have you met the Jobfairy? Finding work in Ireland can be a challenge, as we know all too painfully well! There are traditional ways of finding work and there are others...
Something good to do for others?
Giving blood is giving life You could literally save a life. Blood transfusions are life saving procedures...
Trying something totally different?
Get your Reiki on! Reiki aims to unblock stagnant or negative energy in the body. It is based on the belief that universal energy (ki) flows through seven chakras in the body...
Stay warm and well, and keep those thoughts focused on the sunshine and activity to come!
- The SpunOut Crew
The DL on meeting the Minister
Viva, our lovely work experience student, dishes it out.
Image from Lulu Hoeller on Flickr
Engaging with politicians isn't always easy, no matter your age!
This week, representatives of SpunOut.ie were engaged in very intense discussions with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs about what SpunOut's all about and all the great stuff it's doing for young people in Ireland... ha! Well, that's not how this article is going to go because I'm here to give you the down low on what really went on in a particular discussion room in Leinster House.
Well to begin with, I had no preconceptions of what our meeting with the Minister would be like, I was ready for any situation, happy to represent young people and get my points across.
Cut to the actual meeting: In the meeting room there was the Minister, Francis Fitzgerald, her two advisers, Will (the man who arranged the meeting), our very own Manus Hanratty and Marie Duffy, and yours truly. I don't remember exactly the order of the conversation but it went something like, Manus introducing us and explaining what we're about; Marie talking about her experience with SpunOut; and me speaking whenever I felt was appropriate as “an average young person.”
I'm going to give you my own character analysis of the Minister, as she came across to me. I'll be honest and say I expected her to be a little more interested in me as a young person. I felt like her attitude towards me was more like I was a young child with little understanding of “grown ups business” and no real opinion. It came across as patronising. It didn't feel like she made any effort to involve me in the general flow of the conversation which was mainly dominated with facts and figures about the website and what do we do that sets us apart. I don't at all think this was intentional on her part, I think she is just unaccustomed to relating to young adults in any situation, which is worrying seeing as she is our voice in the government. I understand that her business-like, straight-to-the-point style of conversing is only necessary in such a situation when there is much to be discussed and little time but her abrupt change of tone when she was talking to me made it clear she didn't see me in any way on the same level as the other adults in the room.
I was disappointed with how little she validated that I had an opinion on what they were discussing, after all I am her “target audience.” If I was her I would have used the time to get as much information on today's young people as possible. I finally did butt in towards the end of the meeting and voiced the point that she needs to make herself and the workings of her department more known to us the youth and make sure we know when there is something we can have a say in. Basically we have no idea who she is or what she does and we bloody well should. But even her response to this was along the same lines as what you would say to a child when they show you a drawing looking for your approval and you have to pretend like its beautiful when really you have not a clue what it is. You know the tone I'm talking about? Well that's how she spoke to me. I felt like my (valid) point had been trivialised and she was just trying to make me feel better and like I'd contributed to the conversation in some way.
I totally get how in her head she would think that by raising her eyebrows and smiling encouragingly at me it would make me feel like she was listening and taking in what I was saying but I found it frustrating beyond belief. Maybe she did listen to what I was saying but it didn't at all feel like it, which only reinforces the fact that although she has “a background in social work” she is clearly totally un-used to dealing with teenagers.
She of all people should be putting herself out there and getting right into youth culture, trying to understand us and our needs and what is happening right now. This can not happen when she purely relies on the Chinese whispers that passes from actual teenagers through person after person until it finally reaches her. A watered down version of the truth is no good! Brave the elements and engage with us, we don't bite. Furthermore, you have a formal invitation to my school.
Speaking purely as part of the SpunOut delegation, all dis-satisfaction with the minister aside, the meeting left me feeling indifferent. I hope this feeling is not justified because I want to think that we made an impression on her and her encouraging words weren't just routine. It's hard to tell, although she did accept our gift of the SpunOut “Find Help in Ireland” app and made it clear that the work SpunOut does is of high importance and value. The meeting definitely had a positive sheen to it and things look bright for SpunOut in the future.
Viva Ferguson
- To find out about work experience with SpunOut (which involves more positive stuff too, we promise!), read Work Experience with Spunout!