Sinn Féin Youth National Spring School
Sinn Féin's youth wing, Ógra Shinn Féin, is holding its two-day National Spring School at the Hillgrove Hotel in Monaghan Town this weekend.
The weekend will include workshop discussions on a whole range of youth issues such as drugs (including a debate titled `Legalising Cannabis - Right or Wrong?), AIDS/HIV, family planning and homelessness.
Organisations providing speakers include the Belfast Falls Community Council, the Dublin CityWide Drugs Crisis Campaign, the Coalition of Communities Against Drugs, the Dublin AIDS Alliance, the Irish Family Planning Association, and Focus Ireland.
Ogra Shinn Féin members are aged between 15 and 25 and the organisation is reputed to be the fastest-growing political youth organisation in Ireland.
Up to 100 members from all over Ireland are expected to attend the event, but Education Officer Damian Lawlor stresses that it is open to people who are not members of the party, whatever their age.
``It is crucial that older people hear at first-hand what young people want in life and what the everyday problems are that affect them, so we welcome people of all ages to the weekend. At the same time, Ogra Shinn Féin offers young people an effective, active, campaigning organisation through which to voice their views and this weekend gives young people - inside and outside Sinn Féin - a chance to speak for themselves, to have their voices heard.''
The Ogra Shinn Féin National Spring School takes place at the Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan Town, this Saturday, 10.30am-6.30pm, and Sunday, 12pm-5pm.
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