Christmas comes early for Gaisce thanks to Youth Work Ireland Louth
Christmas came early at Gaisce – The President’s Award after members of Youth Work Ireland Louth gifted a handcrafted ‘Just a Minute’ bench to the Gaisce office in Ratra House in honour of the organisation’s 35th anniversary. Young people from Youth Work Ireland Louth diligently spent several weeks constructing their ‘Just a Minute’ benches to help promote good mental health in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The group initially started out training in woodwork refurbishment before settling on producing mindfulness benches for designated spaces within their local community in Drogheda. A number of different spaces were identified by the group to receive
Susie Spratt joins Gaisce as Project Manager of Wavelength
Susie Spratt has joined Gaisce - The President\'s Award as Project Manager of Wavelength. Susie has a long-term commitment to education and youth leadership. She came to Gaisce from Concern Worldwide where she project managed the School’s Fast programme and developed their first youth leadership summer programme. Prior to that, Susie worked with ECO-UNESCO where she coordinated their national Young Environmental Awards that saw hundreds of students across Ireland developing a real love for the environment and a passion for taking action. In her spare time she volunteered in Johannesburg with the ground-breaking African Leadership Academy. Originally a teacher (in
FutureTalks series a resounding success
Gaisce - The President's Award, as part of its Wavelength programme, recently hosted a five part series of workshops and talks for participants. 'FutureTalks' was an opportunity for Wavelength participants to connect on and explore future education and career paths and learn about how they can make their voices heard. Eight young people from all over Ireland participated in the series and showed fantastic commitment and enthusiasm. The group met and worked with a fantastic assembly of facilitators and speakers online between November 17th and December 12th. Mateja Jaksic, Doris Abuchi-Ogbonda, Eric Ehigie, Razan Ibrahim, Zak Moradi, Ellie Kisyombe and
“Despite often coming from difficult backgrounds, young people can achieve so much” – The Gaisce Award at Oberstown
The hard work and determination of young people at Oberstown Children Detention Campus came to fruition at a presentation held on campus last month which saw participants in Gaisce – The President’s Award being presented with their Bronze and Silver Awards. The young people at Oberstown successfully completed their Gaisce – The President’s Award challenges over the past 12 months across the four categories of community involvement, personal skills, physical recreation, and adventure journey. The participants took part in a range of activities to achieve their awards including football coaching, barista training, culinary and baking skills and charity and community projects. Yvonne
Karol Quinn joins Gaisce as Learning and Evaluation Programme Manager
Born and raised in Charleville, Co. Cork, Karol Quinn has joined Gaisce – The President’s Award as Learning and Evaluation Programme Manager. Karol, who is based in Maynooth with his young family, joins Gaisce from his role as Education Area Development Manager with Young Social Innovators. Prior to joining YSI, Karol spent almost 15 years with Scouting Ireland in various roles, most recently as Programmes Services Manager. He is a graduate of the National University of Ireland, Maynooth where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in History, Philosophy and French and Master of Social Science, Community and Youth Work.
Gaisce – The President’s Award appoint Joy Winston to admin team
Joy Winston has joined the administration team at Gaisce – The President’s Award. A Dublin native, Joy joins the team having spent the last two decades working in retail management with a major fashion brand. She previously studied at Grafton Academy of Fashion Design in Dublin. She lives in County Meath with her husband and two children. Speaking about her appointment Joy said: “I am really excited to join the team and to be part of such an amazing organisation, especially as Gaisce is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.”
Teachtaireacht ón Uachtarán Micheál D. Ó hUiginn
Ba mhaith liom an deis seo a thapú chun buíochas a ghabháil le Gaisce as an tionscnamh tábhachtach BulbsforBees a sheoladh. Inniu, ar fud an domhain, tá an bhithéagsúlacht atá ag teacht chun cinn leis na cianta agus na nglúnta á scrios, á réabadh agus á chreachadh ar luas nach bhfacthas riamh cheana i stair an duine. Tá meath tubaisteach ag teacht ar ár bpailneoirí de bharr ró-úsáid lotnaidicídí, próisis uirbithe agus tionchar an athraithe aeráide atá ag cur táirgeadh inbhuanaithe an bhia agus slándáil an tsoláthair bhia ar a mbraithimid uile faoi bhagairt. Is eol dúinn go maith go
Gaisce – The President’s Award welcomes The Alzheimer Society of Ireland as new Challenge Partner
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland has been officially announced as a new Challenge Partner with Gaisce – The President’s Award. Challenge Partners support and involve young people to participate in one or more Gaisce Challenge Areas, allowing Gaisce participants to use relevant activities to count towards achieving their Award. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland facilitates Gaisce participants to meet either the Personal Skill or the Community Involvement challenge areas through involvement in the 'Creating a Dementia Inclusive Generation' Programme. The programme offers Gaisce participants the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people living with dementia in their
President Higgins supports Gaisce’s #BulbsForBees campaign
Message from President Michael D. Higgins May I take this opportunity to thank Gaisce for designing and launching the most important initiative that is BulbsForBees. Today, across the world, our biodiversity which has evolved across centuries and generations is being destroyed, invaded and plundered at a pace unprecedented in human history. Our pollinator populations are declining at an alarming rate, as excessive use of pesticides, urbanisation processes and climate change threaten the sustainable food production and food security on which mankind depends. We are profoundly aware that the future of humanity is dependent on pollinators, which are so vital to
Gaisce partners with ECO-UNESCO on Youth Climate Justice Challenge
A consortium of five youth organisations, led by ECO-UNESCO, Ireland’s environmental education and youth organisation is launching the second #YouthClimateJusticeChallenge, with partners Gaisce-The President's Award, The No Name Club, Irish Girls Guides & Young Irish Film Makers. The Youth Climate Justice Challenge is aimed at encouraging and empowering young people to take on local action projects on Climate Justice and will include: a series of workshops, a week of Youth Action on Climate Justice, the development of resource materials and a Youth Climate Survey to garner young people’s opinions more broadly on climate justice and environmental issues including barriers and opportunities for young people’s engagement. The project will also
