GMIT Mayo student conference finds young voices crucial in decision-making

GMIT Mayo students recently hosted ‘Young Voices’, a conference highlighting the importance of including young people in decision-making, based on youth-led research supported by Foroige and Tochar Valley Rural Community Network. The event was organised by final year students of the BA in Applied Social Care and the BA in Outdoor Education.

GMIT lecturer Dr Sheila McArdle says key messages shared are that young people have valuable and fresh insights and should be involved in decision making processes in organisations.  Subsequently, spaces for engagement should be provided where young people and adults from various statutory and non-statutory can share knowledge and exchange views.  It is hoped that the suggested actions will be implemented in practice. 

“Most of the students themselves are under 24 years of age and recognise the significance of young voices in decision-making as a way of including and empowering young people.   The inclusion of young people has potential benefits not solely for young people, but other community members, provision of appropriate services and sustainability of communities.”

The students’ conference was kindly supported by South West Mayo Development Company, the Western Regional Drugs and Alcohol Taskforce, a collaboration formed via the work of County Mayo Child and Young Peoples Services Committee. 

GMIT Student Johanna Thome says “certain issues such as the neglected use of social media to reach young people and the complete lack of youth service in rural areas were common themes” that emerged from the conference

Issued by Regina Daly
GMIT Communications Officer
GMIT, Dublin Road, Galway
Tel. 091 742826 / 087-9618355 (m) regina.daly@gmit.ie
www/gmit.ie/news.