Young People Vow to Be Heard

Inspirational young Irish figures to speak at Future Voices Ireland TEDx event Sat June 20th

16th June 2015, Young people are set to make a World of Difference as Future Voices Ireland host their first TEDx youth event in the Science Gallery Dublin on Saturday, June 20th. Future Voices Ireland aims to give a voice to the voiceless; this TEDx youth event will allow young people to shares ideas and spark conversations that are close to their hearts. Tickets are €10 and can be purchased from www.eventbrite.ie.

Inspirational speakers include Alternative Miss Ireland, Sinéad Burke (Minnie Mélange); Katie McAnena, champion windsurfer who has won multiple Irish and International Windsurfing titles, Tom Curren, Right to Die campaigner; GAA All-star, Rory O' Carroll who lines out full back for Dublin senior football team, Emily Logan, first Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, 17 year old scientist Sophie Healy – Thow who recently featured in TIME magazine's most inspirational teens worldwide and 17 year old Nathan McDonagh who has just finished secondary school and immersed himself in discussing and advocating on issues such as mental health, education reform and climate change.

Vodafone World of Difference winner in her role as Youth Advocacy Manager, Future Voices Ireland, Amy Smyth said, "In a year of unprecedented societal change in Ireland, we're delighted to host this TEDx youth event which we hope will inspire and encourage those in attendance to be the 'change' they want to see in Irish society'. Our pool of diverse speakers will no doubt spark some interesting conversation and hope to provoke further challenges to societal thinking through this youth led event. Being involved with this event as part of my role within Vodafone World of Difference programme has allowed Future Voices Ireland's lead the way in providing an avenue for the youth population to organise their thinking and set the agenda."

The World of Difference programme offers people the opportunity to make a difference and work for the charity of their choice for one year, with the Vodafone Ireland Foundation supplying a €40,000 salary to the winner. The Future Voices Ireland TEDx Youth event is taking place on Saturday 20th June from 11:30 to 17:30 at the Science Gallery Dublin; tickets are €10 and can be purchased from www.eventbrite.ie.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Weber Shandwick PR

Norman Pratt 01 - 6798600/ 086 - 1518921

Notes to Editor: 
Speakers at the TEDx Youth Event:

• Sinead Burke – Sinead is the Alternative Miss Ireland emeritus, an ambassador the ISPCC Anti-bullying Shield Campaign.
• Katie McAnena – Katie is a Champion Windsurfer, SUP Surfer & Racer. She is currently balancing life as a doctor & West of Ireland water baby!
• Tom Curren – Tom is a campaigner for the Right to Die.
• Sophie Healy Thow – Sophie is a seventeen year old school girl from Cork in Ireland who already has an impressive international track record for creating awareness about food security, particularly amongst young people.
• Rory O'Carroll - Rory O'Carroll is a footballer with Dublin GAA and Kilmacud Crokes. He lines out as the full back on the Dublin team.
• Kevin Sullivan - Kevin leads the student programmes with Bridge21. The aim of Bridge21 is to develop and promote an approach to learning that is active, collaborative and uses technology well.
• Keren Jackson – Keren is a Social Entrepreneur working around the clock creating social integration among ethnic and sociocultural groups in Dublin. It was her first-hand experience of social exclusion and racism abroad that helped her realise her passion; ethnic and socio-cultural integration.
• Fiona Collins - Fiona Collins, the principal of Francis Street CBS in the Liberties, decided four years ago to develop a teaching programme that would help to build emotional resilience.
• Emily Logan - Emily Logan is the first Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.
• Nathan McDonagh - Nathan McDonagh is 17 years old and has just finished his time in Secondary School. Over the last two years Nathan has immersed himself in discussing and advocating on a wide range of social issues on a number of different platforms and events. Some of these issues included; mental health, education reform, climate change, stresses for teens, future planning and safeguarding for children and bullying.
• Grace Burke - Grace is 15 years old and is from Rush Co. Dublin. She has been involved with Future Voices since January 2015. She is very passionate about her topic of bullying.

About Vodafone Ireland Foundation: 

The Vodafone Ireland Foundation (VIF) was established in 2003 to help support Irish charities to respond to the needs in Irish society. It is the first Foundation of its kind in Ireland. It is among 27 Vodafone Foundations around the world (http://www.vodafonefoundation.org) and is part of Vodafone's commitment to be a responsible global citizen and member of society. To date the Vodafone Ireland Foundation has committed over €7m in funding to the sector and it has more than 30 active charity partnerships.

About Future Voices Ireland: 

FVI empowerment charity working with marginalised teens from lowest performing DEIS schools in Ireland. FVI offers human rights training to find true potential and break the poverty cycle. Amy will establish national youth panel to facilitate self advocacy.
http://www.futurevoicesireland.org/