The Killorglin Youth Leadership group is made up of a group of young people interested in developing their own leadership skills so that they can develop their communities. They came together because they want to have a voice in a range of activities in their community, including being more involved in the economic development, structural development (planning) and the creative arts development of their community.

The area of County Kerry is experiencing a loss of young people. Young people are moving to cities to secure employment and a better standard of living. This initiative by young leaders in Killorglin is working to build the leadership and vision of the local youth to build a better future for them and the local community. Young people from the community are motivating each other to develop their vision for their community. They are being inspired to develop ideas which will support the community into the future. The group are particularly interested in sustainable development and tourism for the area.

The group of young people understand that in order to be taken seriously on committees in their town they have to first develop their leadership skills, their confidence and their understanding of how government and other areas of the town’s development work. They identified skills they needed and with the support of the Killorglin Community Resource Centre received a number of different approaches to training. They want to set up a Youth section of the Chamber of Commerce and also be involved in the community planning committee and the Tidy Town’s and Arts festival Planning committees.

* Image: Participants of Killorglin Youth Leadership group taking part in a Smashing Times workshop with facilitator Vanessa Ogida