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SpunOut.ie Blog
Light a fire today
Blog: Our April news round-up.
Monthly newsletter: The heart of SpunOut.ie
SpunOut.ie is a youth powered national organisation empowering young people to create personal and social change.
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C’mon baby light your fire!!!
Like many of you out there, we at SpunOut.ie have been thinking about the pretty poor state of the nation and planet. Through our work with thousands of young people each year we’re finding that people are increasingly stressed, pressurised and simply fed up. It’s hard not to be with 24/7 negativity coming at you all the time.
So instead of giving in, we think now’s the time for us all to rise and light our collective fires for change! In the spirit of May Day and standing up for our rights, and coinciding with the summer season of Bealtaine where people used to light ritual bonfires heralding a time of purification and transition, we think it’s high time to kick start a new era of people powered social change. We’re embracing this joint celebration and are urging you to also. Go on, it’s time to light your fire!
Highlights from the month of April:
It’s been an action-packed month for the crew here in Gailimhe. We’ve been working hard to make good things happen. Some of April’s highlights include:
- News that we were short-listed for a Net Visionary Award was received with 'yahoos' and 'woohoos' all around the nation. Please, please vote for us today on May 1st as its last day you can vote. It takes 30 seconds!
- A gigantic thank you and shout out to our new Board members: Julian Davis, Damien Mulley, Paddy Duffy, Joe Murray, Andrew Gibbons, Marie Duffy, Aonghus Sammin and Sara Burke.
- A big-up thank you to our selfless 'oldie' Board members, who have been with us from day one: Celia Keenaghan, Janet Gaynor, Anne Sheridin, Keith Corcoran and Larry Masterson, as well as Ian Wasson, Lee Currid, Paul McGroary, Dermot Gallagher and Catherina Davis. You all rock!
- Our own ‘webby’ genius Ian Howley spoke to the fantastic listening and support group Dochas, set up to combat the increasing number of suicides in the Blanchardstown area of Dublin.
- SpunOutters attended the GMIT Health Fair, organised by the super student’s services there. The fair was organised to show young people the range of information and services available to them as they deal with pressures through college.
- We also attended the launch of Clare Mulvany kick ass new book 'One Wild Life', which includes a profile on SpunOut.ie. It’s an inspirational book for all.
- The revamped SpunOut.ie Help section went live, featuring full address listings, an optional map and a dropdown topic list, ensuring that SpunOut.ie users have easy access to information on support services in Ireland.
- View our new Health & Life videos including video interviews with Samaritans and the Rape Crisis Network, cookery classes with tips on making brown bread, hummus, tomato sauce and tasty muffins. Yeeummy!
- Check out our new and groovy updated Gallery documenting some of the SpunOut.ie adventure to date!
- Want a good read? This is the place! We posted 19 brilliant youth written articles on topics such as Obama and climate change, exams, football, relationships and reviews.
- Ermmm ... we were surprised to hear some people did actually think Pat Kenny left RTE to lead our youth social activism project, which was a bit of an April fools joke. We still love ya Pat!
- Speaking of Mr. Kenny, our own SpunOutter Paddy Duffy thinks he is the man for the job!
- And finally, we’ve been brainstorming, buzzing and working our bums off to develop our spanking new and fiery email update: reWire. Click here if you would like to subscribe!
Inspiring SpunOut.ie frontpage campaigns:
All frontpage campaigns are a collective team effort and we strive to make them as strong as can be, inspiring young people to take action and do something positive! Each campaign highlighted an issue of importance to young people. Click on each link to find an article from each campaign. This month featured:
Choose Life – the world and your options after school
SpunOut.ie a positive force... Just some of our feedback from SpunOutters this month:
“Reading all your posts has me in tears, cause you all have been so nice to me.”
“Thanks for your help everyone. It really does mean a lot. I've gotten more support here than anywhere else in my life.”
“Everyone needs a rant! And what better place to have one!”
Discussion forum threads of the month:
Articles of the month:
And finally...
Here’s to Bealtaine and here’s to many a great fire being lit during May! We hope the new season brings fresh light, fun and power to you all.
If you have any feedback, comments, suggestions or ideas please be sure to get in touch with us by emailing info@SpunOut.ie.
We're particularly keen to get ideas and support on fundraising, website redevelopment and active citizenship programmes. Thanks again and take care.
The SpunOut.ie HQ crew
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