Projects
Projects
Cé muid féin agus ár gcuspóirí
50 years growing and developing
50 years growing and developing
Projects
Turais Samhraidh Ógras
Turais Samhraidh Ógras
Ógras committee. From left, Aisling Miller, Maedhbh Ní Dhónaill, Director; Máirín Uí Ghríofa, Breandán Ó Cathasaigh, Chairperson; Rhian Dáibhis and Anita Mhic Gib
Who are we
These include:
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Encouraging and supporting the young person to develop confidence in, and appreciation for the Irish language and culture
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Participating in varied, non-formal, youth-centred programmes
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Engaging in sports and other physical activities
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Learning new skills
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Contributing to their local and wider community in a positive way
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Developing a sense of belonging and feeling part of something
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Forging friendships
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Empowering young people to engage with issues and topics which affect them
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Relaxing and having fun
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Providing positive adult role models outside of home and school
The purpose of an Ógras Youth club is to provide a safe and comfortable place where young people from the area can meet and socialise together through the medium of Irish. Ógras aims to serve the needs of young people by providing a meeting place and a wide range of activities, contributing to positive experiences.
Youth clubs operate one night a week for 1.5 hours to 2 hours. The venue is usually the community hall/centre and a team of local people who volunteer their time staff the club. Young people attend on a voluntary basis. The club programme is varied and includes sport, music, song, dance, outings, talks, discussion group, community involvement, workshops and participation in regional and national events.
Ógras vision
Our vision is an Ireland where young people are supported to develop to their full potential, creating opportunities to speak Irish while having fun.
Ógras mission
To reach this vision Ógras:
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Provides environments that encourage and facilitate young people to enjoy participating in a fun, contemporary, Irish language community
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Provides a vibrant, varied, and planned youth work programme through Irish that encourages creative thinking, confidence building and social development.
What is Ógras?
Ógras is an Irish Language youth organisation for young people between the ages of 8-19. There are two different age groups involved in the clubs. Óg-Ógras is for young people between the ages of 8-12 and Ógras is for teenagers between the ages of 13-19. An Ógras club can be established anywhere in the country where there is a group of young people interested in being involved in an Irish Language youth club. Of course a place to hold meetings and leaders are also needed. Regional, national and even international events are organised by Ógras every year. Then, in the summer, Summer Camps and courses are available around the country for young people to take part in. Ógras provides young people with the opportunity to practice their Irish and helps them to achieve fluency in the language..
Aims
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Promoting Irish amongst young people
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The personal development of young people
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Enhancing Ireland's native culture
What happens in the Club?
In Ógras clubs, leaders organise the clubs (with help from adults) and they do activities such as basketball, board games, indoor soccer, Gaelic Football, music, dancing, language games, workshops, drama, debates, art etc. Ógras gives an opportunity to young people to take part in Oireachtas na Gaeilge - the national festival of the Irish language - and gives them a chance to meet other young Gaels from around the country. Ógras clubs are all over the country and we organise regional, national and even international events for them.
Benefits
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Teaches young people the values of participation and hard work
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Challenges young people to think about their personal attitudes and habits, both as individuals and as part of a community
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Positive effects of work can be observed throughout the young person's life - with family, friends and in public.
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Respect for the young person as an individual with their own personal thoughts, without the leaders' thoughts being pushed upon them.
Values
As an organisation we believe in:
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Being open and inclusive
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Equality across the organisation
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The value of Volunteerism
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Diversity in our approach and offer
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Flexibility in meeting the varied needs of young people
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Youth participation and ownership
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Being outward looking and promoting international dimension to Youth Work
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Creating a friendly, fun and welcoming atmosphere in all things we do and in how we do them
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Promoting pride in Irish identity and culture while valuing other identities and cultures
'Ógras has clubs all over the country and we organise regional, national and even international activities'