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.