Flying the flag for Longford at Foróige Citizenship Showcase
'Autism Friendly YOUth': educating people about interacting with others who are neurodiverse
Foróige South-East Region hosted their Citizenship Showcase on Saturday, May 25 in Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise.
Young people representing Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford and Wicklow showcased their community action projects at the event, focused on improving the participants’ local communities in areas such as equality, inclusion, community events, culture, creativity and fundraising.
Flying the flag for Longford were young people from the SAFE Project with their workshop “Autism Friendly YOUth” that they developed to educate people about interacting with others who are neurodiverse.
At the opening ceremony, Bernie Meally, Foróige South East Regional Manager delivered a warm welcome and acknowledged the great commitment and dedication shown by all of the groups.
After the opening ceremony, each group had the opportunity to show off their project to the other young people and talk in depth about their learning to Foróige staff and volunteers. There was huge diversity amongst the projects - flower boxes for the elderly, handmade hats for the homeless, colour run fundraiser for AsIAm, community events and much more.
Four special merit awards were presented to the following groups: Early Intervention at The WAY Project, SAFE Laois - Nails Group, Templeshannon Foróige Club and The WAY Project. Best Display was awarded to Ratheniska Foróige Club and SAFE Longford.