Raising local youth issues

Joe Quinn (14) started volunteering for Cavan Comhairle na nÓg this year and has also been volunteering with the Green Schools Committee in his

school, St Patrick’s College Cavan, for the past two years. The second year student likes to volunteer because he enjoys helping out in his community, and is “over the moon” to have been nominated as a finalist in the Young Volunteer of the Year category.

“I’m trying to make the world a better place, in a sense,” he says.

Ranging in age from 12-18, there are 21 young people involved in Cavan Comhairle na nÓg and this year, their focus is on improving public and school transport throughout the county.

Through organising surveys with schools and social media campaigns, they would like to reduce the cost of transport, and improve service times, bus cleanliness and infrastructure.

“We want to make an impact, not just throughout Cavan but maybe nationally,” Joe explains. Having previously been involved in green schools in primary school, Joe feels it was “great” to be able to continue his experience and show his knowledge on the topic in secondary school.

“It’s great to hear other people’s opinions,” he says of the committee.

Earlier this year, Joe visited Dáil Éireann to speak with a number of public representatives and discuss his views with them. A few of them have since contacted Joe to tell him they’re trying to work on improving issues that he raised including advocating for more continuous based assessment in secondary school.

“It’s great to know that there’s actually change happening,” he praises.

Joe believes the experience was a great opportunity for young people to “have a voice” on a national level.