Fourteen Kildare teens compete in national leadership conference

Fourteen young people from Kildare (L-R Amelia Pisaneschi, Jenny Brady, Amy Hanlon, Chloe Wright, Ava Brady, Ellen O'Grady, Philip Lawlor, Caleb Comiskey, Calum McKenzie, Lauren Dunne, Leyna Magera, Lily Costello, Anna May Brien and Áine Feeney) were among more than 300 teenagers from Ireland and the United States who recently attended Foróige’s Leadership for Life Youth Conference at Maynooth University. Hosted in the heart of County Kildare, the conference welcomed young people for a week of leadership development, resilience-building and personal growth. Delegates participated in practical workshops, team activities and inspiring keynote sessions while exploring issues that matter to young people today.

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The conference is the flagship event of Foróige’s Leadership for Life Programme, which has been empowering young people for more than 15 years. Throughout the week, delegates will strengthen essential life skills including communication, teamwork, decision-making, resilience, critical thinking and problem-solving, while learning that leadership is not about titles, it’s about having the courage to make a difference. Alongside practical leadership activities, delegates are exploring the issues that matter most to young people today. Honest conversations around mental health, equality, climate action, technology and belonging are giving participants the opportunity to share experiences, challenge perspectives and learn from one another in a supportive environment where every voice is valued. The conference also welcomes a delegation of young people from the United States, many with proud Irish roots. Their participation celebrates the enduring connection between Ireland and its global diaspora, creating friendships that cross borders and offering young people the chance to learn from different cultures while discovering how much they have in common.

Highlights included keynote addresses from former Army Ranger Ray Goggins, Olympian and Foróige alumnus Jack Woolley, and singer-songwriter Imelda May, each sharing powerful messages about leadership, determination and believing in yourself. Eric O’Brien, CEO of Foróige, said “When you bring together more than 300 young people with different backgrounds, experiences and ambitions, something really special happens. They inspire one another to think bigger, dream bigger and realise that they each have the ability to make a real difference. Every young person has the potential to lead; sometimes they just need someone to believe in them first. This conference is about giving young people that belief, alongside the skills, experiences and friendships that will stay with them long after they leave Maynooth. The energy, optimism and compassion we see here each year reminds us of what young people can achieve, both now and in the future, if they are given the opportunity and the right support.”