05/12/19 - 08/01/20 www.hebevents.com EVENTS SECTION TWO - Page B5

Building our communities

Making their voices heard…

By Katie Macleod voted in as the Outer Hebrides’ MSYPs in March, t’s been a busy few months for the islands’ and have been meeting their peers, attending local young people, who have been making their community and council meetings, and planning I events like the Young Leaders Conference. voices heard in the Outer Hebrides at a variety of different events, on issues ranging from “The benefi t of having local MSYPs is that they climate change to mental health. can give an island and rural perspective to all discussions – ensuring that we are not forgotten,” The activities kicked off with the Young Leaders Erica Clark, Community Learning and Development Conference on September 24th. Held in the Offi cer at the Comhairle, told EVENTS earlier this Caberfeidh Hotel in Stornoway, the event was year. “MSYPs will consult with local young people spearheaded by the islands’ two Members of before each sitting to get their views on the different the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs), Sakshi motions that will be discussed.” Orchison, from Lewis, and Maria McGoldrick, from Uist. 35 young leaders who hold leadership The 70th National Sitting of the Parliament saw roles in local organisations attended the more than 100 MSYPs get together in Dunfermline conference, which aimed to encourage and inspire High School, and Sakshi and Maria were able young leaders, volunteers, and activists. to join in on a variety of discussions, including Young people attended from organisations the launch of the grassroots phase of the Youth including Lews Castle College UHI, The Nicolson Parliament’s environmental protection campaign, Institute, Pointers Youth Centre, Who Cares Pack It Up, Pack It In, which aims to empower Scotland, Harris and Stornoway Guides, and the young people to speak out and take action to sports and health sectors. They spent the day reduce pollution levels in Scotland. “I had such discussing and learning about the three main issues an amazing time, met great people, and learned a on the agenda: mental health; Personal, Social, and lot,” wrote Maria on her MSYP Instagram account. Health Education in schools; and climate change. Back in the islands, National Youth Work Week, The keynote speech on the day was given by John which celebrate youth work across the country, Loughton, a social entrepreneur and campaigner, took place between 4th and 11th of November. who spoke with the young people in attendance Throughout the week, Community Learning and about what it means to be a leader and making Development staff were based in the islands four your voice heard. secondary schools, running interactive stalls with On her offi cial MSYP Instagram account, Sakshi information and leafl ets, and encouraging pupils wrote about the success of the event. “Maria and I to stop by and chat at lunchtimes about the key will take your opinions and views about topics and issues that matter to them. Some of the topics issues we discussed today and we will show them that were raised included the Pack It Up, Pack It to other MSYPs at our next sitting in October and In campaign; young people’s involvement in the other meetings and committees.” upcoming 2020 Year of Coasts and Waters; and Following the triumph of the fi rst Young Leaders work on Film G projects for MG ALBA’s annual Conference, a similar event is now being planned Gaelic short fi lm competition. for Uist and Barra in early 2020, with Sakshi Other recent events included the screening and Maria involved in its organisation alongside at Pointers Youth Centre of An-Dràsta! – a fi lm Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Community Learning created by local young people, examining how the and Development team. climate emergency is affecting the Outer Hebrides The theme of climate change continued – and the Uist Youth Café pop-up event on 13th throughout the month, as a number of young November, which was held to gauge interest for people took part in an organised protest outside after-school activities in North Uist. Hosted at the the Comhairle building in Stornoway to raise Claddach Kirkibost Centre, the Youth Café was awareness of climate change. Maria and Sakshi open for S1-S6 pupils, who attended after school were also invited to take part in the inaugural to take part in games, arts and crafts, enjoy home meeting of the Outer Hebrides Community baking, and get access to free WiFi. Planning Partnership (OHCPP) Climate Change With a new year on the horizon, there’s more Working Group. to come for the islands’ MSYPs and their peers. As In October, it was time for Sakshi and Maria Fiona MacInnes-Begg, Manager of the Community to attend their fi rst sitting of the Scottish Youth Learning and Development department, Parliament in Dunfermline, Fife. The Scottish Youth explains, the team “continue to seek and support Parliament is the democratically elected voice of opportunities for young people to move to the young people in Scotland, comprised of MSYPs forefront of decision making, and ensure the views from all 32 local authorities. Sakshi and Maria were of young people are better represented.”