Two Kildare girls launch their creative new sign-language club at Foróige's Regional Conference 2019

By Kim O'Leary

Two young Kildare girls attended Foróige's regional conference 2019 which took place in the Killeshin Hotel in Portlaoise at the weekend on Saturday, February 2.

Caitlyn McGannon (11) and Katie O'Keeffe (13) are both from Kildare Town and they launched their innovative 'Let's Sign' club at the conference. The two girls are self-taught in sign language and they are now opening their club in The Hive in Kildare Town in the hope of teaching other young people how to sign to help communicate with and better understand those with hearing difficulties.

Caitlyn is a student at St Brigid's Primary School in Kildare Town whilst Katie goes to Kildare Town Community School.

The two friends have been involved with The Hive Youth Club in Kildare Town for nearly a year and The Hive in turn put them in touch with Foróige, which is Ireland's leading youth organisation, working with over 50,000 young people aged 10-18 per year through volunteer-led Clubs and staff-led Youth Projects.

At each Conference or Seminar, Foróige members exchange ideas and influence local, regional, and national decision making. The events also provide young people with the opportunity to be elected on to the Reference Panel.

For more information on Foróige visit www.foroige.ie and check out the Facebook page for The Hive - Kildare Youth Hub