infolink

Welcome to Infolink, Limerick Youth Service’s newsletter/e-zine that promotes the positive contribution of young people to our communities and keeps you up to date with the latest news from one of Ireland’s leading youth organisations.

The countdown to Halloween, an opportunity to Discover Europe for teenagers, an exhibition in King’s Island, Comhairle na nÓg launch a series of projects and lots more in this week’s Infolink. My Island, a public exhibition featuring portraits of young people and their families from the King’s Island area, is now live at the Exchange Wall, Nicholas St, Limerick.

The exhibition features a collage of photographs from the Youth of the Island Field project showcase the people of King’s Island as seen through the eyes of young people from the community.
 
The photographs were previously displayed at Ormston House and will remain on public view in Medieval Limerick for a number of months.

Many of the young people are members of Limerick Youth Service’s King’s Island youth clubs/groups with more details on the formal launch in the coming in a future edition of Infolink.

To view the exhibition please visit www.limerickyouthservice.com/my-island
  Limerick Comhairle na nÓg launched their gender equality and the LGBTQIA+ themed projects at Ormston House recently.

The projects include several videos that address gender, sexuality, the Pride flag and a documentary on Limerick’s LGBTQIA+ community.

The Comhairlí plan to include the videos as part of a gender equality and LGBTQIA+ workshop for schools and youth organisations.

The videos can be viewed at limerickyouthservice.com or by clicking on the respective links below:

• Gender & Sexuality
• The Pride Flag 
• Coming Out
• LGBTQIA+ Documentary

The Comhairlí also launched two murals that are located at Island Road, King’s Island and Moylish Road, Ballynanty. 

The mural in Ballynanty celebrates women and girls, while the mural in Island Road (opposite St. Mary’s Church) is a call or young people to be heard.  

‘For the past few years, Limerick Comhairle na nÓg have been working on these projects and it’s great to see them launched tonight,’ said John Real, Limerick Youth Service.
 
‘The video package will be a great asset to schools and youth organisation in promoting awareness of LGTBQIA+ related issues in terms of terminology, education and support,’ said John, Limerick Comhairle na nÓg coordinator.

‘The two murals were created by young people and use the medium of street art to promote equality related topics in terms of gender and age,’ said John.

John thanked those who attended the launch and reserved a special word of praise for the young people with Limerick Comhairle na nÓg for their creativity, enthusiasm and commitment the projects, particularly during the challenges of the past few years.
    Excitement is building in the Treaty County ahead of Limerick’s Fittest Youth Club Challenge which will take place at Ballyhass Lakes on Wednesday, November 2^nd.

Teams from Limerick Youth Service, Garryowen Community Development Project, the Southill Hub and the West End Youth Project, will be locking horns in what promises to be an action-packed day in Co. Cork.

With two teams from LYS taking part, Tracy Lawlor was keen to play down any thoughts of an unfair advantage for the organisation that will celebrate its 50^th anniversary in 2023.

‘Our Garryowen youth work and Irishtown (YDP) projects are teaming up with St. John’s Youth Club to form Team Garryowen, while our Youth & Family Support Projects will fly the other LYS flag,’ said Tracey Lawlor, LYS.

Despite been part of the same organisation, there will be no favour shown to their Garryowen friends with Tracy saying ‘our team is training hard and aim to win!’

Meanwhile, Infolink sources confirm that the Southill Hub and Weston Youth Centre teams are training hard at a top-secret locations and we keen to keep their respective plans private!

LYS would like to wish the very best of luck to all the teams taking part with the Olympic motto Citius, Altius, Fortius – Communite ringing loudly in Ballyhass.
  Teenagers across the Midwest are invited to a super Halloween Costume Party at Lava Javas Youth Café on Friday, October 28^th from 4-8pm.

The Halloween Costume Party promises to be a spooktacular event with young people invited to delve into their imaginations as the celebrate the Feast of All Hallow’s.

Traditional festive games, face painting, music and more await the brave souls who will venture into the depts of the youth café for what will be one of highlights of the Lava Javas calendar.

For more information, please contact Shelly at shelly.goggin@limerickyouthservice.org Facepainting, music, fun and plenty of traditional Halloween themed games await young people & families at the Garryowen Halloween Fair at Geraldine’s AFC, Garryowen, Limerick on Friday, October 28^th (4-7pm).

Organised by young people from Limerick Youth Service and Garryowen Community Development Project, the Halloween Fair promises to be great fun and with plenty of spooktacular surprises!

For more details, please contact Jonathan at jonathan.collins@limerickyouthservice.org. Ghosts, goblins, witches and many more creatures of the night await revellers at this year’s Castleconnell Fright Fest at the Riverside on Sunday, October 30^th

Planning is well underway for the annual spooktacular with young people from Limerick Youth Service’s Castleconnell Youth Group busy preparing for the event!

For more details on Castleconnell Fright Fest, please click HERE
    Teenagers were born in 2004 and have or will celebrate their 18^th birthday this year, are invited to explore Europe from Iberia to the Baltic, as part of the European Union’s #DiscoverEU initiative.

#DiscoverEU offers eighteen-year-olds the opportunity to explore the diversity of Europe, learn about European culture, heritage and history and connect with people across the continent.

The journey through the diverse continent will also give teenagers the opportunity to develop life skills such as independence, confidence and openness to other cultures.

Travelling predominantly by rail (there are exceptions to allow those living on islands or in remote areas), participants will discover Europe’s stunning landscapes and its variety of cities and towns.

Young people who are interested will need to apply via www.europa.eu portal that will remain open until October 25^th at 11am.   
  Infolink features articles about organisation of importance to young people and the wider community.

The Ombudsman for Children’s Office (OCO) is a human rights institution that promotes the rights and welfare of young people (under 18 yrs) living in Ireland.

The OCO has two main roles:

• to deal with complaints made by or for children and young people about the actions of public organisations.
• to promote the rights and welfare of children and young people.

The OCO promote children’s rights and welfare by finding out what children and young people are concerned about and highlighting their opinions to people who make decisions that affect them.

The OCO advises the Irish Government and other organisations to ensure laws and plans respect children’s rights. 

For more information visit www.oco.ie
  In the next edition, Infolink will have details of a Limerick Comhairle na nÓg Youth Conference, the countdown to Halloween and more!
  Please send your views to LYS’ Youth Information team at yib@limerickyouthservice.com or call 061-412444/083-1726898.

Times & dates subject to change.  Limerick Youth Service is not responsible for content of external sites