Formed in 1952, Foróige was formerly known as Macra na Tuaithe, the youth branch of Macra na Feirme.

1981 orgainisation changed it’s name to Foróige.

They believe in every young person and are passionate about young people and their potential.

The Foróige approach to youth work is underpinned by a strong philosophy which states:

Unique Each person has unique qualities and attributes.

Creative Creativity applies to many aspects of life: solving problems, organizing, the arts, communicating, caring for others.

Take responsibility We always have a choice: in what we think, do and become.

Interdependent with others We develop through relations with other people. We achieve more by working together.

Make a difference to the world Each person has something important to contribute to making the world a better place.

Have an influence Reality is not fixed. It can be changed by our actions. Each person can influence what is going on. Each can influence what they become in life.

Learn from every situation Learning does not stop at school. It is part of everyday living. It is a lifelong process.

It was established in 2006 and lies in the heart of Longford Town.

It’s a fun and safe environment for the young people of the town to meet with friends.

The café depends on volunteers to keep it’s doors open but there is also three youth workers and a drug and alcohol awareness officer employed by the café.

There are youth committees within the café who meet weekly.

They run discos, drop ins, summer programmes, drug and alcohol awareness programmes and much more!

They host HYPE annually which the biggest music festival for young people in Ireland.

Currently in the process of building “The Attic House” which will be the first youth facility of it’s kind in the country.

In the past the café has been involved in;

Junk Kouture

Poster Campaigns

Short Films raising awareness around various topics

Last week the TY committee launched their graffiti mural as part of Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week 2014

I completed my art facilitation with the senior committee within the café.

There were five participants all aged 16/17.

I came across a memory box activity on Pinterest and felt that it would be a good facilitation considering the age group.

Three of the participants were boys and two were girls.

Focus on reflection and also on the future.

I felt the activity would encourage the participants to share common interests and past experiences.

Similar to the idea of a year book.

A personal time capsule that they can open in a few years and remember their time within the café.

I contacted the Regional Youth Officer with Foróige for Longford and Roscommon to get permission to do the facilitation.

I spoke to the group a week prior to the facilitation to explain what we would be doing.

I encouraged the group to bring in items they wanted to incorporate into the activity.

I sourced the shoe boxes and other arts materials in the days prior to the facilitation.

Shoe Boxes Magazines Glitter Glue Neon card Coloured Paper Newspapers Jewels Stickers Cello tape

Glue Markers Coloured tissue Scissors Letters Photos Paper Pens Envelopes

Prior to the group arriving to the café I had a work area set out for them.

When the young people arrived I explained why we were doing the facilitation.

I showed the group pictures sourced from Pinterest to give them a ideas.

However, I made it clear from the onset that this was their memory box and they were free to decorate and personalise it in any way they chose.

The different personalities of the people in the group emerged as the facilitation progressed.

Ideas were shared and admired.

The boxes, and in particular the photographs used, became a talking point within the group.

The members improvised and came up with creative ideas around how to work with what was available to them.

I thought this activity tied up the facilitation nicely.

Letter to my future self to be opened in November 2016.

The first item for their memory box.

Can reflect in a few years and see how far they’ve come.

Time constraints.

Limited Space was a problem withinthe café. Tables are small and round withinthe café which resultedin us using the pooltable.

I was extremely happy with how the facilitation went.

Feedback was positive.

This activity could be adapted to help people deal with a loss, trauma or move.

Memory boxes could be used with everyone from any age group.