Foróige Apache Youth Club – Art Exhibition | Gaisce Stories
Our Development Officer Stephen Peers visited the Foróige Apache Youth Club for their Art Exhibition on Saturday 1st April.
Their participants have been very busy working on their Gaisce Awards
Aaron Hughes, currently completing his Gold Award, made a recipe book as well as growing vegetables and herbs from seed as part of his Silver Award. The other group members then helped to make a garden for the Elderly in Heather House where they transplanted some of the vegetables and herbs grown by Aaron.
“I loved volunteering in the local Community Kitchen it was my first step to work and Gasice gave me the confidence to go to work” – Aaron Hughes
Grace Hartnett, currently completing her Gold Award, choose arts and crafts as her Personal Skill and went to St Luke’s Girl Guides to show them how to make St Brigids crosses. Grace has been working her way up through the club, going from Member to Secretary and is now a Leader.
“Im almost finished my Gold Gaisce from a nervous teenager doing my bronze I am a new person, I finally found myself and I can do anything. If I can do my Gold Gasice anyone can.” – Grace Hartnett
Johnny Harnett, currently completing his Gold Award, has choosen painting as part of his Gaisce journey and has been constructing his flat packed Warhammer pieces before hand painting them to use in his Warhammer layouts.
“Gaisce means motivation to me conditioning to doing something constantly for a period of time is tough and Gasice has helped about with sticking with something long enough to see results ” – Johnathon Hartnett.
Jennifer Green, currently completing her Gold Award, became a Leader for Irish Girl Guides during her Silver Award, and achieved her Warrant. Jennifer now runs the group as well as assisting with the younger group of Brownies.
“We have many challenges with our disabilities Gaisce helps us achieve and challenge Ourselves to be part of something bigger”- Jennifer Green.
Cian has achieved his Bronze Award, where he made a book about badminton which was his Physical Recreation. For his Personal Skill he was the Pro and Liason between junior and senior youth club. Cian’s Bronze journey was interrupted during Covid so his Community Involvement had to take place at home where he participated in the Mercy Hospital sit-ups challenge, camped out overnight for Simon community and did the Darkness into Light walk.
“I can do things when I’m part of a great team of friends.” – Cian Healy – Chairman of The Apache youth club.
Mikey Hartnett, currently completing his Gold Award, went on the Pelican Tall Ship as part of his Silver and for his Gold is now training as a peer mentor for other youths who will go on the Tall Ship cruises.
“To me, Gaisce is about setting a goal or achievement and doing it despite how crazy your life can be from time to time. The Apache youth club means a lot to me and having a community to turn to when I needed help is pivotal. I’ve taken part in many different events and school outings and it’s activities like this that have being a great source for me to draw on. From things like reassurance that if I’ve survived a weekend camping I know my next time I can take on more. In terms of making connections with new people, again my time at doing Gaisce really helps whether it’s before after or during my time going through Gaisce. To finish a short quote: “It’s what you do when no one is watching. That’s what really counts.” To me this encapsulates my time doing Gaisce. Figuring out how to apply yourself and get through it even it’s a little hard a times. This to me is what Gaisce is about.” – Mikey Hartnett.
The youth club members were all taking part in their Awards during Covid but they kept going, altering their awards during lockdowns and holding online chats with each other to boost each other. When Cian was doing sit-up challenge the others joined in doing 10 sit-ups each per day and fundraising for The Mercy Hospital Foundation.