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30 September 2011

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SINN FÉIN – REPUBLICAN YOUTH | YOUNG REPUBLICANS GET TO WORK

New youth strategy launched at Ard Fheis

More than one hundred young republicans attended the launch of the new ‘National Youth Strategy’

» BY MARK MOLONEY

ÓGRA SHINN FÉIN members, college activists and young republicans from across Ireland launched Sinn Féin’s new National Youth Strategy at this year’s Ard Fheis in Belfast.
The comprehensive document aims to increase the capacity of Ógra and college cumainn, making them more efficient and attracting more young republicans to Sinn Féin.
The launch was attended by the youngest member of the Seanad, Senator Kathryn Reilly, Martin McGuinness , Mayor of Belfast Niall Ó Donnghaile and H-Blocks Hunger Striker Leo Green.
Speaking to An Phoblacht at the launch, Ógra Cúige Uladh Co-ordinator Councillor Pádraig Quinn said:
“The launch of the National Youth Strategy was the culmination of over 12 months of hard work carried out by Ógra Shinn Féin and the newly formed National Youth Committee. Over 100 young people attended at different periods of the day, many of whom left re-energised and focused for the time ahead.”
The new youth strategy aims to bring closer co-ordination between Ógra structures and Coláistí  across Ireland with a particular focus on ensuring that, as students graduate and move on, the college structures and cumainn are maintained.
The National Youth Committee has to act as a strategic reference point for activists and it has responsibility for setting the strategic and political objectives of the youth development project and co-ordinating all youth activity.
The make-up of the National Youth Committee allows for young people to choose their own leadership as well as attempting to be representative of the party as a whole. A third of the National Youth Committee will be elected by activists at an annual conference and a third will be appointed on behalf of the party leadership by the Party Chair, under whose office the committee falls.  The remaining third will be selected by the two thirds already in place.
To ensure that the voice of young people is heard at the highest levels within the party, the National Youth Committee will have representation on the Ard Chomhairle.
While the NYC is tasked with setting the political and strategic objectives for the youth project, there is clearly a need for particular bodies to deliver this strategy.
It was agreed to develop different work plans for the colleges and third-level institutions and within the community. These are entitled the Coláistí programme, and the Ógra programme. With a view to the effective delivery of the work plans and of the strategy generally, it was agreed that there should be a co-ordinating group for Coláistí and Ógra.  To ensure that the entire youth project is tightly bound together, it was agreed that the work of young people in Coláistí and Ógra would come together under Sinn Féin - Republican Youth.
Councillor Quinn said:
“I think it is important that we begin to see a new generation of young people emerge from the ranks of Ógra and take up leadership positions. Whether it be in local council, the assembly, the Dáil , local cumainn or comhairli ceantair, young people need to begin to take on serious positions, all the while learning from more experienced activists and applying new skills, a fresh set of eyes and new energy to our ever-changing struggle for freedom.”

 

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