REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MCALEESE AT THE LAUNCH OF THE MONAGHAN NEIGHBOURHOOD YOUTH PROJECT
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MCALEESE AT THE LAUNCH OF THE MONAGHAN NEIGHBOURHOOD YOUTH PROJECT MONDAY, 17TH JANUARY, 2000
Cuireann sé áthas ar mo chroí bheith anseo libh inniu ag an ócáid seo agus ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a chur in iúl díbh as an chuireadh agus as fáilte fíorchaoin.
It is a great pleasure for me to join you here today for the official launch of the Monaghan Neighbourhood Youth Project. Of course, you’re hardly newcomers to youth work here in Monaghan – this particular project is the successor of a previous initiative operated by Foróige. I warmly welcome Foróige’s continuing involvement in this new and innovative project, in conjunction with the North Eastern Health Board.
There is an Irish saying ‘Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí’ – praise the youth and they will blossom. We need to make that saying a reality for young people by creating a climate both at home and in the community where the young are praised and encouraged. All too often young people feel they are told only what they can’t do, shouldn’t do, or criticised for what they haven’t done. No wonder they sometimes feel they just can’t win.
Yet if we are serious when we say that young people are our greatest resource, the builders of our future, we owe it to them to provide the help and encouragement that will enable them to blossom. Time and time again, I have seen the dividends that are to be reaped through that approach. I have seen just how much young people can achieve; how, in a wonderful voyage of self discovery, they can learn what talents they have and bring them to bear on their lives and the lives of others. The potential of young people through their energy, intelligence and willingness to contribute to the welfare of their country and the world, is impossible to put a value on.
That is why projects such as this are so important. They provide new and imaginative ways for young people to develop their special interests, skills and, most importantly, their self-confidence through a variety of activities. In fact, I was pretty envious when I heard that these range from samba classes, to drama to canoeing and video production. I wouldn’t mind something similar at the Áras! I think I'd need to add a physiotherapy class after the samba though.
But I know that the purpose of these activities is not just to provide fun – though I wouldn’t underestimate that – it is also about recognising how inside each young person is an enormous amount of potential. But that potential is fragile, easily squandered and destroyed. There is a saying that what is learnt in childhood is engraved on stone. For some children, that engraving process, whether at the hands of an adult or life’s circumstances, is careless and does irreparable harm. But a good engraver can take a rough stone and skillfully transform it into the sparkling diamond it was always capable of becoming in the right hands. Too many lives have been lived untransformed, their genius and talent blighted by poor engraving, by lack of care. One of the most sacred trusts adults have is to be good engravers- it is our special duty of care to and for the next generation.
And that is what you are doing here in Monaghan, combining the resources and expertise of Foróige – whose special Millennium programme I had the pleasure of launching a few months ago – with the wonderful support of the North Eastern Health Board. This partnership approach enables the project to tap into all the resources and expertise available in the community and channel them in a very focused way towards achieving real results. I want to pay tribute to both of these organisations and to acknowledge the contribution of many others – the Garda Síochána, Monaghan Partnership, and the Programme for Peace and Reconciliation. In particular, I would like to warmly congratulate Peter Clerkin, Chairperson of the Project Advisory Committee and the Project Manager, Fiona Clerkin for their energy, enthusiasm and dedication. Together with the many volunteers who have given so generously of their time and commitment, you have transformed this initiative from just another idea into a very successful reality. Finally, I would like to congratulate all the young people who have taken part in the various projects. I hope that you have had great fun, made many new friends and discovered for yourselves the joy of taking part.
I know that Monaghan Neighbourhood Youth Project has many other imaginative projects in the pipeline and I wish you every success with each one of those. I have great pleasure in officially launching this Project.
Go n-éirí go geal libh. Go raibh maith agaibh.