2 April 1998 Edition
Sinn Féin Youth in Basque Country
Seventeen young republicans from across Ireland have travelled to the Basque country for a two week solidarity trip. The Sinn Fein delegation travelled at the invitation of Jarrai, the Basque youth movement. The group includes activists from Dublin, Derry, Belfast, South Armagh, Newry and Portadown, aged from 15 to 26.
SFY national organiser Eoin O Broin said the purpose of the trip was ``to give our activists the opportunity to learn some new ideas from Jarrai. As a youth movement they have nearly 20 years experience and we have a lot to learn from them''.
O Broin also highlighted the importance of international solidarity between independence struggles, especially in the context of Europe.
The trip, which runs from 24 March to 13 April, is the first of its kind. High points include the Youth Encounter, Jarrai's bi-annual national youth festival of culture and resistance, at which an estimated 20,000 young people will attend this year. The delegation will also meet with a host of youth organisations including Gazteriak, Jarrai, Duina and Ikasle Abertzaleak, and LAB Gazteria. They will also meet with political prisoners groups, Gestoras pro Amnistia and Senideak, the women's organisation Egizan, and Herri Batasuna.
In addition a number of public talks will be delivered in schools, universities and youth houses across the country. Another high point will involve the painting of a mural in the town of the Youth Encounter, Oiartzun.
The delegation contains a core group who will have the additional task of learning the internal mechanics of Jarrai, from local and provincial to national level. A series of 10 special meetings will examine how Jarrai organises national events such as the Youth Encounter, and the work behind the youth magazine Hitza eta Ekintza.
SFY activist from Dublin Matt Carthy said that ``the trip would be an invaluable experience for all of us, both to learn and to explain to people in Euskal Herria our situation in Ireland''. Colleen Gildernew, a youth activist from Tyrone, said, ``this is a fantastic opportunity, it should happen more often, so that more young republicans could get the opportunity of taking advantage of it''.
SFY national organiser Eoin O Broin said the purpose of the trip was ``to give our activists the opportunity to learn some new ideas from Jarrai. As a youth movement they have nearly 20 years experience and we have a lot to learn from them''.
O Broin also highlighted the importance of international solidarity between independence struggles, especially in the context of Europe.
The trip, which runs from 24 March to 13 April, is the first of its kind. High points include the Youth Encounter, Jarrai's bi-annual national youth festival of culture and resistance, at which an estimated 20,000 young people will attend this year. The delegation will also meet with a host of youth organisations including Gazteriak, Jarrai, Duina and Ikasle Abertzaleak, and LAB Gazteria. They will also meet with political prisoners groups, Gestoras pro Amnistia and Senideak, the women's organisation Egizan, and Herri Batasuna.
In addition a number of public talks will be delivered in schools, universities and youth houses across the country. Another high point will involve the painting of a mural in the town of the Youth Encounter, Oiartzun.
The delegation contains a core group who will have the additional task of learning the internal mechanics of Jarrai, from local and provincial to national level. A series of 10 special meetings will examine how Jarrai organises national events such as the Youth Encounter, and the work behind the youth magazine Hitza eta Ekintza.
SFY activist from Dublin Matt Carthy said that ``the trip would be an invaluable experience for all of us, both to learn and to explain to people in Euskal Herria our situation in Ireland''. Colleen Gildernew, a youth activist from Tyrone, said, ``this is a fantastic opportunity, it should happen more often, so that more young republicans could get the opportunity of taking advantage of it''.