Raise Your Voice 2013

Youth groups from across a host of nations including Ireland, Germany, Armenia and Georgia gathered in the host nation of Italy, in a small town called Cisternino towards the end of 2013. The members of each group participated in the projects because it was an opportunity to share experiences and knowledge from their home countries. They were also given the platform to talk about any of the issues they felt were important that affected them at home, while they lived in this newly formed, sharing, community.

Raise Your Voice 2013 gave the participants an opportunity to have their voice heard, in particular through a radio broadcast that the group organised and produced themselves. Topics such as social issues and politics were discussed with the focus being on the cultural identity and the historical background of the home nations for each group.

The group of enthusiastic members from Ireland, supported by New Communities Partnership Youth, immersed themselves in the spirit of the occasion. At the opening dinner night, conversations and recipes were exchanged in a fun filled evening.

As the event continued throughout the coming days. Members took part in classes which focused on media and communications, the importance of radio in modern communications was discussed. The group also visited the local radio station, were specially selected members went on air to discuss the project. Subjects such as media in conflict, stereotypes, music and art were discussed in what proved to be a very important few days for the youth group members and an event which should prove highly important in the future of media.