The National Youth Showcase entitled ‘Youth Work Changes Lives’ took place in the Mansion House, Dublin last Wednesday, June 19.
The event brought together over 300 young people representing every constituency in Ireland to celebrate the value, diversity and vitality of youth work in Ireland.
Local councillor Kevin O’Keeffe said a key message emerging from the day was that hundreds of thousands of young people and their communities take part in and benefit from youth work, and that we need to sustain and increase funding for youth work to meet the needs of our growing youth population.
The event included over 300 young people at 39 stands, each representing their constituency and meeting their local politicians and included representatives from the Cloyne Diocese Youth Service in Cork East and Cork YMCA.
There were also interviews with young people, who shared powerful experiences of how youth work has changed their lives.
Organised by the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI), the occasion gave young people from around Ireland the opportunity to speak directly to public representatives and share with them first-hand what they do, what they learn and the benefits of youth work for them and their local communities.
