Two young people from Kildare join the first Gaisce Youth Ambassador Panel

Gaisce – The President’s Award this week announced the 12 members of Gaisce’s first Youth Ambassador Panel.

Among the panel members are Laura Barry (Athy) and Killian Burke (Naas), Co Kildare.

The panel consists of 12 young people from all around Ireland, aged 18 to 27, and will run until December 2025. Its primary goal is to advocate and be ambassadors for Gaisce among their peers and the broader youth audience while actively collaborating with the Gaisce team to enhance the award experience for other young people.

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Laura Barry and Killian Burke are currently students at Maynooth University and UCD respectively.

The Gaisce Youth Ambassador Panel represents a diverse group of young people from all over the country. Panel members will benefit from training sessions and learning opportunities to develop their leadership skills and enhance their CVs.

They will explore themes such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), inclusion, and diversity.

Additionally, they will receive media training, skills development, and the chance to learn from and engage with experienced guest speakers.

Gaisce is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, making it a particularly exciting year for the ambassadors to be involved with the organisation. The panel will play a key role in celebrating this significant milestone in Gaisce’s history.

Speaking on the Gaisce Youth Ambassador Panel, Avril Ryan, Chief Executive, Gaisce – The President’s Award, said: “I am delighted to have such an insightful and energetic group of young people representing the voice of Gaisce Awardees on our first Gaisce Youth Ambassador Panel.

“It’s so important for us to champion the voices of young people from all around Ireland and from a range of diverse background. As we celebrate Gaisce’s 40th anniversary this year, this panel of accomplished and enthusiastic young people will be advocates for the Gaisce Award amongst their peers, in their community and nationally.

“I am really excited to hear their views as we continue the development of the programme in the context of the work we will do this year in preparation for our new strategy. The team and I are looking forward to seeing them flourish and experience all the opportunities that being a Gaisce Youth Ambassador has to offer throughout 2025!”