Your Turn challenges young people to think in new ways about their town or city and their world. The result is growing numbers of young people with the interest, knowledge and confidence to make a contribution to their communities far beyond their age and experience.
Your Turn seeks to empower local young people to develop their confidence and self-esteem, enable them to take up leadership roles within their communities and to participate effectively in decision making processes at all levels in Irish society.
Where is Your Turn taking place?
Between 2000 – 2003, the Your Turn campaign in Dublin delivered 10 workshops reaching over 500 young people. The programme was delivered in 2000/01 and 2001/02 to groups of 30 young people from 10 schools and ran for a period of 8 days. In total 17 second level schools participated in Your Turn over this period.
In February 2005 the Your Turn campaign was relaunched in cooperation with the Northside Partnership in the form of a 7 day programme for 35 young people from schools and youth organisations across the Northside Partnership area. We are currently working to extend the programme into other areas of Dublin city and hope to bring the campaign countrywide in 2008.
What’s the benefit?
Your Turn aims to:
- encourage an integrated approach to problem solving
- break down barriers and create an understanding of other opinions
- increase the percentage of young people involved in local and city life
- raise aspirations and expectations of transition year students with regard to their future and that of their communities, schools and youth organisations
- enable young people to make more informed life choices.
The next Your Turn is due to take place in Autumn 2008