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ners who also receivedwhoalsoners a ing ing various awards for ns! Congratulations to all w, merry for young people in Co Donegal to Youth Forum worked in partnership Chuala Youthreach and Claire Sweeney, Gortahork ar history on Tuesday 27 November! The election es, like the Youthreach centres, or minority groups means to be heard and this project created a youth s s Youthreach County Coordinator and Youth Officer eeded to be voted onto the Youth Council. A small earlier this year through Peace III funding a proj hadowed Donegal County Council, meant that in the last few months to the extent that with it the confidence provided to go her for election onto Donegal Youth Council which proved successful for her. has shared She the story of her involvement in the project next on page.theuswith forum of young people who do not have a voice into DYC. The with DYC to set up young people structures to that get support involved in more affect the them decisions across that the county and to most establish relevant the issues affecting young people county. in Sarah the Jane got involved in to to the fourth and final edition of our 2012 newslet Chuala Chuala ), ), who became the first ever young people from Yout

Co CoDonegal YOUTHREACHDonegal YOUTHREACH Co Donegal VEC The The next edition will be available in March; for no Christmas! music award in Dublin. Happy 10th birthday also to Ballyshannon Youthreach. Youthreach. Ballyshannon their their hard work in FETAC, music, sports and electio Buncranalear asasandGortahork well Ballyshannon Welcome... Welcome... the last few months centres have been busy celebrat those learners who have recently received awards at SandraDr Buchanan,Youthreach County SandraDr CoordinatorBuchanan, Youthreach County Coordinator 2 3 3 4 4 was was set up which aimed to create more opportunities Youthreach Makes Election History! History! Election Makes Youthreach pictured pictured left and right below 2007-2013. 2007-2013. Chuala Chuala December 2012 the National Development Plan Plan Development the National Youthreach is co-funded by the the by is co-funded Youthreach Volume 10,Volume Issue 4 Irish Government and EU under EU under and Government Irish entitled Inside this issue:Inside this SarahJane Talks Ballyshannon Celebrates10 Years! VisitBuncrana Jigsaw GortahorkWin Music Tournament Co Football Congratulations to Sarah Jane McCready, Letterkenny Youthreach ( have their voice and opinions heard by DYC. be elected onto Donegal Youth Council in its ten ye structures for Donegal Youth Council (DYC), which s past, young people from very small schools or centr have not had access to the critical mass of votes n group of representatives, including Co Donegal VEC’ have been looking at this issue for a few years and AboutChuala Award

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YOUTHREACHYOUTHREACH YOUTHREACHYOUTHREACH . . .. R E RR E ERE ’ ’ ’’ ). ). The tournament was organised by E E EE W W W W WWWWWW WWWWWW DONEGALVECDONEGALVEC DONEGALVECDONEGALVEC . . .. ) ) of the National Association of Youthreach ’s ’s respectively. Best Rap went to Cootehill, while erkenny erkenny Youthreach centres, to determine the l Tournament took place in Letterkenny amongst The winner on the day was Buncrana/Glengad . o took home the Best Song award for their breezy pictured pictured right All the tracks from Songs from the Youth 2012 are s s (West Wicklow) and Michael Hutchinson (Roscrea) WWWWWW WWWWWW Awards! Awards! On Wednesday 24 October Youthreach students from ac the country travelled to Dublin to be part of the C part of a series of songwriting workshops designed creative achievements ain ‘Grammy’ style multi-med others. Gortahork’s epic trip to the capital wasn’t they brought back the Best New Centre Award with th Songs from the Youth music awards. The awards show young people the opportunity to create, share and c through music. The show acknowledged the young peop The guests were treated to a visual feast for the s live music from emerging electro Kasey pop outfit, Smith Miracl (formerly of Louis Walsh’s Wonderland) the Letterkenny LCA class as one of their tasks—many thanks and congratula- tions to the winning team! www.craftzone.ie ) ) who will represent the Northern Region at the nat pictured pictured below left Successful County Football Tournament Successful FootballCounty Tournament Gortahork Win Best NewWin Music@ Centre Gortahork Co Donegal VEC Runners up on the day were Gortahork Youthreach ( Other winners on the day included Waterford City wh tune ‘Can’t Wait for the Summer’, while Katie Phibb took home the Best Female and Male Solo Performance Castleblaney picked up the best group vocal trophy. nowdownload available from to free Coordinators (NAYC) national football Youthreach competition. ( On Tuesday 27 November, a successful County Footbal YOUTHREACH County Coordinator Coordinator County YOUTHREACH Buncrana Heights, Millfield 24 Donegal Co 20908 93 074 Tel/Fax: Email: [email protected] Ballyshannon, Buncrana, Gortahork, Glengad and Regional Lett winner for the Northern Region (Co Donegal Pa ge 2 Co Donegal YOUTHREACH News Volume 10, Issue 4 Co Donegal YOUTHREACH News Volume 10, Issue 4 P a ge 3

Chuala – To Be Heard! Ballyshannon Celebrates 10 Years! This year, Ballyshannon Youthreach is celebrating its 10th anniversary! I joined Chuala in June 2012. At the first meeting The Ballyshannon Youthreach programme offers a holistic approach to we did a few different fun activities to break the learning, embracing a broad, balanced curriculum, with an emphasis on ice and then got into some topics that affect achieving accreditation, while ensuring learners are encouraged to take young people today. We discussed ways to improve our community. We also discussed ASBOs, how and do they work? responsibility for their own learning and to become independent thinkers. We have also had different workshops such as public speaking, the do’s and don’ts. During the summer we went to On Thursday 27th November, the celebrations began when Ballyshannon Carrowmena Activity Centre in Limavady and stayed over night. We participated in outdoor activities such as raft Youthreach held their Presentation of Awards and Craft Fair in the building, zip line, archery and a few others. We also discussed topics such as racism, discrimination, stereotyping etc. This Lakeside Centre in Ballyshannon with proceeds from the fair going to the residential brought us together and made the group stronger. We also got to meet with the steering group and we RNLI in Bundoran. All presented them with a power point the group had put together and showed them why we want Chuala to continue and produce on sale was handcrafted by the Youthreach learners what it is we do for young people. I really enjoy these meetings because I get to meet up with other young people and it themselves and ranged from wooden crafts ( pictured right ) to is a great forum for young people to give our views and opinions. Chuala is there to give young people a voice and to homemade carrot cake. Ballyshannon Youthreach would like to take stand up for the rights of young people. Chuala project is aimed at young people who do not usually participate in the this opportunity to thank everyone that attended the day and Donegal Youth Council. The Chuala group put together the following mission statement: “Things that involve fun, group supported the very worthy local cause. Also on the day, learners discussion and us! Chuala is also about commitment, change for the better and sharing ideas. Chuala is based on trust, received awards for their hard work for various FETAC modules at honesty, and openness and for everyone to feel comfortable. Chuala needs people to make an effort and push both Level 3 and Level 4. Modules included Communications, IT, themselves, while having fun, in order to achieve their goals. In Chuala we hope to achieve young people’s voices to be Personal & Interpersonal Skills, Maths, Woodwork, Art & Drawing to heard and to have an opportunity to listen to representatives from other organizations that might be able to help us in name but a few. On top of all the FETAC awards that were presented achieving this! We hope to go on visit/trips that will help us learn and have fun. We want to create a positive and fun on the day were GAISCE bronze pins. Michael Collins from GAISCE atmosphere where everyone can learn and feel safe!” We hang this up on the wall along with our contract for every was there to present the learners with their pins. Another great achievement for the learners of Ballyshannon meeting so we can remind ourselves what Chuala is about. I find Chuala really enjoyable and it is worth putting my time Youthreach! There were a few speakers, who also need to be thanked for their participation who spoke about their th and effort into the group. Chuala also gave me the confidence to run for the Donegal Youth Council on the 27 experiences of Ballyshannon Youthreach. We heard from family members, past learners and from organisations that November and I knew they would back me up throughout it and so would Youthreach. Youthreach deal with on a regular basis. Their input into the day helped to make it extra special for everyone. Sarah Jane McCready, Letterkenny Youthreach PEACE III Donegal CDB Peace & Reconciliation Partnership Lifford Update Buncrana Visit Jigsaw Congratulations to Pictured below are learners from the Buncrana and Level 3 Learner Colm Glengad centres who recently visited the Jigsaw premises Melaugh who was (the Hub) in Letterkenny. Sean McGrory, Project Manager, Project supported by PEACE III Programme managed fo r the Special EU Programmes Body by Donegal County Council awarded Minor Player gave them a tour of the premises and explained this new of the Year at the mental health project for Letterkenny Attended Domestic recent Red Hughs, young people. K i l l y g o r d o n Violence Campaign Launch presentation function. As well as being a p r o l i f i c s c o r i n g Pictured are learners from Letterkenny Youthreach with art forward for his club, Colm has also represented tutor Dolores Dunleavy who attended the launch of Donegal Donegal, as a panel member of the Donegal Minor Women's Domestic Violence 16 Days Awareness campaign. football team. Colm is pictured on the right receiving Learners from the centre completed art pieces for the launch. his award from County player Frank Mc Glynn. Letterkenny Raise €1,300 for Charity!

Learners from Letterkenny Youthreach raised €1,300 for the Pictured left are Lifford Youthreach learners who organised and Donegal Hospice and Canteen through a craft fair in the Mount took part in a sponsored walk on November 6 th to raise funds for Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny on Sunday 11 November. Two groups Freya Stancombe Taylor & Susan Toye ( pictured ) and Sarah Jane the Foyle Hospice, whose fine work was brought to the attention McCready & Rachael Kelly had their NFTE products on sale on the of staff and learners recently. The 5K walk raised over €250 for day. Well done! this well deserved cause.