Ógras committee. From left, Aisling Miller, Maedhbh Ní Dhónaill, Director; Máirín Uí Ghríofa, Breandán Ó Cathasaigh, Chairperson; Rhian Dáibhis and Anita Mhic Gib
Who are we
These include:
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Encouraging and supporting the young person to develop confidence in, and appreciation for the Irish language and culture
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Participating in varied, non-formal, youth-centred programmes
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Engaging in sports and other physical activities
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Learning new skills
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Contributing to their local and wider community in a positive way
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Developing a sense of belonging and feeling part of something
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Forging friendships
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Empowering young people to engage with issues and topics which affect them
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Relaxing and having fun
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Providing positive adult role models outside of home and school
The purpose of an Ógras Youth club is to provide a safe and comfortable place where young people from the area can meet and socialise together through the medium of Irish. Ógras aims to serve the needs of young people by providing a meeting place and a wide range of activities, contributing to positive experiences.
Youth clubs operate one night a week for 1.5 hours to 2 hours. The venue is usually the community hall/centre and a team of local people who volunteer their time staff the club. Young people attend on a voluntary basis. The club programme is varied and includes sport, music, song, dance, outings, talks, discussion group, community involvement, workshops and participation in regional and national events.
Ógras vision
'That Irish will be spoken (as a community language) by the young people of Ireland, and that they will have the confidence and ability to achieve this potential, and to be fully part of the community through the medium of Irish.'
Ógras mission
Promoting the Irish Language as a community language by providing the space and the opportunity to young people to use Irish comfortably as part of the Irish language community.
Providing a program for young people through Irish that is lively, varied and well organised that inspires creative thinking, self confidence, social development and language development through activities, fun, sport, cultural activities and pastimes.
Enable young people to be confident in using Irish as part of their daily lives.
To bring this vision into reality, Ógras provides a safe environment to young people to support them in speaking Irish in a fun contemporary setting.
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What is Ógras?
Ógras is an Irish Language youth organisation for young people between the ages of 8-19. There are two different age groups involved in the clubs. Óg-Ógras is for young people between the ages of 8-12 and Ógras is for teenagers between the ages of 13-19. An Ógras club can be established anywhere in the country where there is a group of young people interested in being involved in an Irish Language youth club. Of course a place to hold meetings and leaders are also needed. Regional, national and even international events are organised by Ógras every year. Then, in the summer, Summer Camps and courses are available around the country for young people to take part in. Ógras provides young people with the opportunity to practice their Irish and helps them to achieve fluency in the language..
Aims
Promoting Irish amongst young people
The personal development of young people
Enhancing Ireland's native culture
What happens in the Club?
In Ógras clubs, leaders organise the clubs (with help from adults) and they do activities such as basketball, board games, indoor soccer, Gaelic Football, music, dancing, language games, workshops, drama, debates, art etc. Ógras gives an opportunity to young people to take part in Oireachtas na Gaeilge - the national festival of the Irish language - and gives them a chance to meet other young Gaels from around the country. Ógras clubs are all over the country and we organise regional, national and even international events for them.
Benefits
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Teaches young people the values of participation and hard work
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Challenges young people to think about their personal attitudes and habits, both as individuals and as part of a community
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Positive effects of work can be observed throughout the young person's life - with family, friends and in public.
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Respect for the young person as an individual with their own personal thoughts, without the leaders' thoughts being pushed upon them.
Values
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To be open and inclusive
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Equality throughout the organisation
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Working voluntarily
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Diversity in our approaches
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Attending flexibly to the needs of young people
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Participation and that the young people take ownership of their own clubs.
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Providing safe spaces for young people to come together socially
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Creating a welcoming and friendly atmosphere
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Spraoi! :)
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Promoting pride in Ireland's culture and identity
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To be forward-looking and to develop the international aspect of the organisation.
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Youth development.
'Ógras has clubs all over the country and we organise regional, national and even international activities'