Welcome to Comhairle na nÓg
Rhys Scully Carlow Comhairle na nÓg
Comhairle na nÓg = youth council
About Comhairle na nÓg • Set up to give children and young people under the age of 18 a voice in the development of local services and policies. • Established under the National Children’s Strategy (2000) – based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
Comhairle AGMs • Recruitment from local schools and youth groups • Opportunity for young people to voice opinions on topics of importance to them
Local topics • Young people select and work on topics that are important to them Consultations • Submit on local policies • Take part in public consultations
Joshua Challoner Louth Comhairle na nÓg
Comhairle na nÓg National Executive • 31 members – one national representative from each Comhairle na nÓg • 2 year term
Dáil na nÓg • National parliament for young people aged 12-18 years • Delegates from all Comhairles attend • National Executive follow up on the recommendations from Dáil na nÓg • Theme in 2017: EQUALITY
Comhairle na nÓg National Executive • Facilitated & supported by Department of Children & Youth Affairs (DCYA) • DCYA ensure that young people on the National Executive get the opportunity to engage with appropriate ministers, policy makers, Oireachtas Committees and other decision makers
Shane Quinn Clare Comhairle na nÓg
Who we work with • Young people • DCYA, other government departments & state agencies - Senior national policy makers - Senior civil servants • Local Authorities • Youth organisations and the Participation Team from Foróige & Youth Work Ireland • Organisations, academics and experts relevant to our topic • Schools
Cian Mac Gearailt Laois Comhairle na nÓg
Comhairle na nÓg Works on topics at local level Examples of topics currently being worked on nationwide: • Equality • Homelessness • LGBTI+ • Health & wellbeing • Youth facilities Comhairle na nÓg meets with local and national decision makers in relation to issues that may need input from young people.
What have we done? Year Topic 2012-2013 Strengthening the voices of young people through Comhairle na nÓg 2014-2015 Let’s Go Mental: a positive mental health campaign for young people 2016-2017 The need for young people to have a stronger voice in their education and school – ‘So, how was school today’ survey & report 2018-2019 Equality: Individuality and Student (Now) Voice
VIDEO HERE
Anthony Khijinski Dublin City Comhairle na nÓg
What we’re doing now Theme 2018-19 = EQUALITY • Access for all • Individuality • Student Voice • Equality training for teachers • LGBTI • Equal spread of resources • Gender Equality • Cultural Equality
Our focus for 2018-19 ❑ Individuality ❑ Student Voice • Hair (styles and colour) • Cannot discriminate on appearance • Allow individuality • Changes school policies on appearance, i.e. make- up, piercings etc… • Better regulation • More power to student councils in relation to Boards of Management
Jennifer Wood Wicklow Comhairle na nÓg
Our plan needs to be: ❑ Achievable ❑ Effective ❑ Beneficial Our aim: To make school a fairer and more inclusive place
STUDENT VOICE: Our aspirations ❑ Look for fairer elections in student councils ❑ Give more power to student councils in relation to Boards of Management ❑ Ensure student councils are mandatory and are listened to in all schools ❑ Look for better regulation of student views ❑ To have a greater appreciation for student voice ❑ Introduce less formal & less patronising relationships between teachers and students ❑ Give students greater input into the education system
INDIVIDUALITY: Our aspirations ❑ To call for changes to school policies on appearance, i.e. that schools cannot discriminate on appearance such as hair styles and colour, make-up, piercings, etc …
Caoilfhinn Ní Choilligh Westmeath Comhairle na nÓg
Acknowledgement of the work of UN Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children ❑ You look into children who are sexually exploited ❑ You report on human rights. ❑ You focus on children under 18 ❑ You make recommendations to government and to civil societies
Shared values and ethos • Rooted in children’s rights & the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Our view of Comhairle ❑ It gives us a voice ❑ It allows us to have an impact on local issues ❑ It enables us to make change by taking control - empowerment ❑ It gives us respect ❑ We are treated as equals ❑ We are free to express our views
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING
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