Welcome to Comhairle na ng Rhys Scully Carlow Comhairle na ng - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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

• n the United Nations Convention
• n the Rights of the Child

Comhairle AGMs

• Recruitment from local schools

and youth groups

• Opportunity for young people to

voice

• pinions
• n

topics

• f

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

• pportunity

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

• f

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 (Now)

Equality: Individuality and Student 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

❑ 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…

INDIVIDUALITY: Our aspirations

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