Fast Forward Seminar: Sharing our outcomes

Our Fast Forward seminar took place yesterday and was a very meaningful experience for all of us.
Minster Sherlock presence and inputs along with Vanessa Sheridan from Irish Aid and Ivanna Darcy from Leargas reaffirmed the value of contribution that the youth sector can make to nurturing resilient global citizens.



Fast Forward Stop Motion Animation

These are some of the recommendations that the participants made for policy makers, to improve the environment and opportunities for young people to grow as resilient global citizens?

By examining these recommendations we have banded them into three strands. Beginning with education, then looking to the wider community and action groups and continuing with the organisations which contribute and shape policies:

• EDUCATION needs to be structured in a way to encourage more divergent, creative and pro-active thinking. The current system teaches people to be disciplined and compliant, rather than free to think more laterally.

• By beginning critical thinking early as a practice this enables young people to find their own voice as global citizens. A space should be created within the educational system to practice debate and to discuss and reflect on opinions. By doing so enables them to find a voice to become resilient and responsible, active global citizens.

• More of an emphases on civic education, making it more informative and engaging for participants. Instead of teachers in the school teaching the subject, social innovators and practitioners, for example. Youth  and community workers, politicians and social and political activists.

• Integrate the structure of voting, how to vote and the impact of using your vote as a citizen. Also continuing this informative approach with regards to understanding financial and economical impact on the individual in society. For example; paying rent, the tax system and obtaining a loan.

• To emphasis learning another language to engage with the world around us.  

• Creating opportunities for volunteering with local and international organisations in conjunction with the schools. For example, during the school holidays.

• Education systems to support exchange programmes to bring about an in depth understanding and connection between people. For example to practice a language. Broaden social horizons and broaden the mind to enable self learning and self progression.

• To create forums of discussion that represent all young people to meet with policy makers.

• Allow youth to make more policies. By doing so making it possible for the youth to influence policy making. This activity enables them to be motivated, for them to grow as resilient active members of society.

• To open local and national parliaments for people to observe and voice opinions. For example the existing opportunity for young people to go to Brussels to sit in on parliament discussions.

• INCENTIVES to engage in volunteering in the community with the opportunity to gain additional grades or points through the education system.

• To give public recognition to people who contribute to society and acknowledge the projects they have achieved.

• Make policies more accessible and use more easily comprehendible langue to aid in the understanding of new and existing policy.

• To provide opportunities for organisation to take risks and to follow a process in to the unknown, as this is where innovation truly takes place and new ideas and practices emerge.

Final Reflections & Goodbyes

It's all over and time to say good bye :( It's been an incredibly intensive, creative and inspiring week. We have achieved so much and are looking forward to seeing what happens next!

Some highlights from people:

• Realising I have lots of ideas and am creative will make me a better global citizen!
• The trainers have an amazing ability to guide, lead and encourage in a very warm, inclusive, organised, dynamic and encouraging way - challenging, inspiring and nurturing at the same time. A privilege to be part of it all!
• The playfullness of being around the group has given me drive to keep laughing and being silly.
• I am more aware of my potential ....and my impact on others
• I particularly enjoyed the peer facilitated workshops and learning different methods of approach to engaging young people creatively. 
• The passion of all of the participants and the energy was inspiring. 

Fast Forward Sharing our outcomes, influencing policy

Our Fast Forward seminar took place yesterday and was a very meaningful experience for all of us.
Minster Sherlock presence and inputs along with Vanessa Sheridan from Irish Aid and Ivanna Darcy from Leargas validates the importance of what we are doing!

Our stop motion animation gave an insight into the amazing creative, dynamic and fun experience we have had this week together.


                          



Some photos of our event:

Welcome from Orla Flynn, Vice President for external affairs, CIT / Head of CIT Crawford College of Art & Design

Interactive Harmony Demonstration 

Inout from Minster Sherlock abut the supports that Irish Aid are giving to the youth sector in the field of development  education . 

Nora Introducing theme of the training programme

Grainne sharing personal learning and reflections on the connection between Creativity, Resilience and Global Citizenship 

              Rose presentation recommendations to policy-makers to improve the opportunities of young people 

Krizsta -  can the youth sector best nurture young resilient active global citizens ?

Jess presenting the publication and resource that that will be shared as an online tool for youth and education sector

Ivanna Darcy from Leargas and Vanessa Sheridan from Irish Aid 

What recommendations do you have for policy makers to improve the environment and opportunities for young people to grow as resilient global citizens?

By examining these recommendations we have banded them into three strands. Beginning with education, then looking to the wider community and action groups and continuing with the organisations which contribute and shape policies:

• EDUCATION needs to be structured in a way to encourage more divergent, creative and pro-active thinking. The current system teaches people to be disciplined and compliant, rather than free to think more laterally.

• By beginning critical thinking early as a practice this enables young people to find their own voice as global citizens. A space should be created within the educational system to practice debate and to discuss and reflect on opinions. By doing so enables them to find a voice to become resilient and responsible, active global citizens.

• More of an emphases on civic education, making it more informative and engaging for participants. Instead of teachers in the school teaching the subject, social innovators and practitioners, for example. Youth  and community workers, politicians and social and political activists.

• Integrate the structure of voting, how to vote and the impact of using your vote as a citizen. Also continuing this informative approach with regards to understanding financial and economical impact on the individual in society. For example; paying rent, the tax system and obtaining a loan.

• To emphasis learning another language to engage with the world around us.  

• Creating opportunities for volunteering with local and international organisations in conjunction with the schools. For example, during the school holidays.

• Education systems to support exchange programmes to bring about an in depth understanding and connection between people. For example to practice a language. Broaden social horizons and broaden the mind to enable self learning and self progression.

• To create forums of discussion that represent all young people to meet with policy makers.

• Allow youth to make more policies. By doing so making it possible for the youth to influence policy making. This activity enables them to be motivated, for them to grow as resilient active members of society.

• To open local and national parliaments for people to observe and voice opinions. For example the existing opportunity for young people to go to Brussels to sit in on parliament discussions.

• INCENTIVES to engage in volunteering in the community with the opportunity to gain additional grades or points through the education system.

• To give public recognition to people who contribute to society and acknowledge the projects they have achieved.

• Make policies more accessible and use more easily comprehendible langue to aid in the understanding of new and existing policy.

• To provide opportunities for organisation to take risks and to follow a process in to the unknown, as this is where innovation truly takes place and new ideas and practices emerge.

DAY 5: REFLECTION

The week is flying, we have achieves so much. We have sent the past three days in high energy, hands on creative workshops.  This morning we are heading into a more reflective mode.
The key question to start us off is……….

What are the competencies ( values, attitudes, mindsets) that are important for young resilient active global citizens?

Workshop 4:Unity Effect

Facilitators: Krisztina Katona and András David

This workshop aims to make participants aware of each other. It creates situations and support processes in which they can experience pure connection to themselves and to each other, where empathy and solidarity can strengthen within. To connect with values and determine memories, feelings  which they can consider important and share them with the group through creative expression. The group create an art piece collectively, using elements produced individually, placing them in a common space harmoniously together.

Reflections from participants:

• It showed me how easy we can connect and how much that enhances a creative process
• It supported me to realise the interconnection between people all of the time
• Remembering to be open minded and respectful and to approach exercises with a free spirit
• What one person does can have a huge impact
• The inner connection with ourselves helped me to reflect better about my life and society in general
• It was a very lovely feeling to simply change the way I moved and how the whole group change their movements the same as mine.
• I really felt connection to people, recognising their histories, vulnerabilities and possibilities. It strengthens solidarity. I felt responsible for my peers.
• I think the idea of we are the circumstances of each other really brings us near to the idea of global citizenship
• I know now that I do not always have to be the person to support others as it is ok to seek support also, it does not mean you are weak or vulnerable!

WORKSHOP 3:Theatre as a tool for change

Facilitator: Rosemary Sweeney

This workshop aimed to  achieve an individual understanding of social justice through a group drama workshop. By looking briefly at forum theatre and also group dynamics through the ideas of community and working together. Participants will have increased understanding of power relationships, develop an ability to stand up and use their voice and be motivated to participate and be part of change.

Reflections from participants:

•   It has made a strong identifiable connection between global issues and people.

•   It helps me to think of how we are responsible in different situations by our actions whether good or bad and most importantly how we as global citizens have the power to make a change.

•   It has encourage me to be opened to things I am afraid of

•   It helped to think about and discuss about important topics without realising and by just 'playing'

•   The experience will help me in my work. Working in an international group always pushes the limits of communications and connections

•   Now I see by trying to see other peoples situation, I can understand more and help find a solution.

• How simple the exercises were and how clear the conclusions and messages were. I think even though they are huge issues, it's easy to see where the problem lies.

WORKSHOP 2: A cappella singing and songwriting - Finding your voice

Facilitator: Michael Betteridge

This workshop (a cappella singing practice) gives participants the skills to teach a cappella music (of their own culture) in a succinct way for young people.  The songwriting part of the workshop gives participants the opportunity to explore ways of writing songs and how to successfully explore themes with their participants. This workshop aims to nurture confidence, creativity, critical thinking and connecting others.

Reflections from participants:

•   I feel loads more confident, feeling much taller, tuned in with myself and like I can take on anything now

•   The potential simplicity of creating music

•   His passion for music: to teach others as well. Even when it was difficult for me he managed to explain it in very basic steps. I really liked his creativity

•   Discovering the poet in myself and the composer. 

•   Michaels passion and enthusiasm and ability to see potential in all ideas- very encouraging would be great with young people.Michaels charisma and passion helped us to feel inspired, even though it is alien territory joining together through voices

•  It was the fun, empowering, encouraging and safe. Loved it all!