Longford young people feel more connected to their communities through Gaisce
The research following a record year for Gaisce, with almost 30,000 registrations and over 17,000 Award completions – the highest in the organisation's 40-year history
Nine out of 10 young people in Longford and across the country feel more connected to their communities through engaging with Gaisce, according to a new study.
Gaisce -The President’s Award helps them while instilling them with a sense of purpose (89%). This is according to a new survey of over 1,000 Gaisce Awardees.
The findings, which come at a time when young people report growing rates of loneliness across the EU, and as Growing Up in Ireland research continues to highlight the importance of connection, belonging and community to young people's wellbeing.
The results reinforce the positive role Gaisce can play in supporting young people's personal development, confidence and sense of belonging.
Participants contributed more than 423,000 hours of volunteering in communities across Ireland.
Respondents also reported that achieving their Award made them more confident (80%) and supported them in developing lifelong skills (90%), with half of respondents saying they expect to use skills developed through Gaisce to support their future careers, underlining the Award's lasting impact beyond school and into further education and employment.
Nine in ten participants said the Award encouraged them to be more active, and 87% saying it motivated them to stay involved in sport or physical activity.
Aoife McElroy, Gaisce Youth Ambassador, added, "Taking part in Gaisce pushed me outside my comfort zone in the best possible way.
“It gave me the confidence to try new things, meet new people and become more involved in my community. Looking back now, I can see how much I grew throughout the experience.
"Being a Youth Ambassador has shown me just how many young people are capable of amazing things when they're given the opportunity and encouragement to challenge themselves. Gaisce isn't just about achieving an Award, it's about building confidence, developing new skills and realising your own potential."