Youth Work Programme
Our approach to youth work is based on a critical social education model of youth work adhering to principles such as voluntary participation of young people and equality. The programme is funded through two main sources - the City of Dublin Youth Service Board and the Irish Youth Foundation.
Aim:
To enhance the lives of young people in the Traveller community.
History of the Youth Work Programme
Pavee Point Youth Work Programme was one of the first established Traveller specific youth service in Ireland. It is over 20 years old and has historically worked in North Dublin, in the areas of Finglas and Coolock. The work has entailed working with young Traveller men and women through the social education model of youth work, running groups, summer projects, large youth events, making films about young Traveller culture, residentials, exchanges, working in solidarity with other minority groups and organisations.
Another part of the work was networking, advocacy and policy work. This included liaising with local, regional and national organisations and bodies with an aim to keep Traveller youth issues on the agenda.
In recent years the work of the programme has changed and has, in line with organisation policy, moved away from local work and now has more of a focus on youth work for Travellers an a national level.
Current Work
Supporting Traveller Youth Participation
The programme supports a Pavee Point Participation Group of young Travellers. These young men and women sit on committees and fora that affect their lives. The Youth Work Programme currently have representatives on the following panels:
- Office for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, children and Young Peoples Forum
- Dublin Comhairle na nOg
- Ombudsman for Childrens Office
- Other local Youth Advisory Panels and Committees in Dublin.
Advocacy
The youth work programme plays an advocacy, liaison and resourcing role in relation to decision makers and service providers whose policies and programmes affect the lives of Traveller youth.
We represent young Travellers by making policy submissions or through our involvement with the National Youth Council of Ireland. This work is crucial in highlighting the situation of the discrimination and bad social and living conditions of young Travellers in addition to their diverse range of needs.
Networking
We engage with a number of Traveller and non-Traveller youth groups as well as other community development groups at local, national and international levels.
Policy Development
This involves research pertaining to young Travellers, developing efficient and effective codes of practice and designing and testing different management systems.<
Resourcing
We aim to provide ongoing support, advice and assistance to local Traveller youth groups.
Future Plans
The youth work programme has committed to working for young Travellers rights on a national level.
To do this our goal is to offer supports and training to young Travellers, Traveller youth workers and mainstream youth services across Ireland. We will be focussing on inclusion and participation of young Travellers in youth services and other structures that may affect their lives.
This work will be guided by our Steering Committee and the new Pavee Point Youth Advisory Panel.