Credit: Belong To – LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland

Empowering Voices: LGBTQ+ Youth Untold Stories

Project Overview

Empowering Voices: LGBTQ+ Youth Untold Stories is a transformative initiative aimed at capturing, preserving, and celebrating the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ young people across five nations: Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. By creating a book and digital exhibition, this project provides a platform for LGBTQ+ youth to share their unique stories through creative mediums such as film, art, photography, audio, and text. Through collaboration with young people and youth workers, we will foster understanding, empathy, and support within the LGBTQ+ community while also addressing broader societal issues.

Project Aims

  • Foster Empathy and Understanding: Promote greater empathy, support, and understanding among LGBTQ+ young people by highlighting their diverse stories.
  • Improve Mental Health: Combat isolation by building a sense of community and belonging, enhancing the mental well-being of participants.
  • Develop Personal and Social Skills: Empower youth by enhancing their personal, social, and critical thinking skills through non-formal methodologies.
  • Create a Global Perspective: Encourage a critical perspective on society and help young people connect local issues with global challenges.
  • Provide a Platform for Expression: Give LGBTQ+ youth an active role in shaping their narrative, offering a platform to share their stories and experiences.

Key Outputs

  • Co-Production Sessions: Collaborative online sessions will bring together young people and youth workers from all five participating organizations to co-create and shape the project.
  • Monthly Digital Workshops: LGBTQ+ young people will participate in monthly digital workshops where they will use various creative forms (film, art, photography, audio, text) to express their stories. These workshops will introduce multimedia art forms and encourage experimentation with different techniques and tools.
  • Residential Event in Manchester: A residential event at The Proud Trust’s building in Manchester will bring together the youth participants to collaborate with a creative artist, culminating in an exhibition of their work.
  • Digital Launch: The project will culminate in a digital launch of the book and exhibition, showcasing the stories and images of LGBTQ+ youth from across the five nations.
  • Local Launch Events: Each locality will host a face-to-face launch of the book and digital exhibition, giving the local community an opportunity to engage with and celebrate the stories of LGBTQ+ youth.

 

 Stay tuned for further updates and be part of this inspiring journey.

Film25, March 2023

#Film25

We are thrilled to announce that a film to mark the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement created through partnership with Co-operation Ireland, British Council Northern Ireland, and the British Embassy Dublin has won Gold at the annual creative industry Shark Awards in the Public Awareness and Political Party category. The film has also won an Epica Award and is part of the ACT Responsible Collection - an international non-profit association affiliated with the United Nations Department of Global Communication and Global Impact. 

On the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, #Film25 gathered 25, 25 year olds from across Ireland and the UK. Capturing the voices and sentiments of those impacted by the Agreement, young people reflected on the last 25 years and consider what peace has meant to them. They looked forward to the next 25 years, and what can be built on the foundation provided by the Agreement.

Participants hailing from across the UK and Ireland were recruited, with filming conducted by the creative company BigO in March 2023.

Ahead of filming, a series of workshops were carried out in Dublin led by Co-operation Ireland staff members Margaret Lucey and Matt Gamble to explore themes of peace and how the group looked at The Agreement 25 years on. Filming took place the following day exploring those themes on camera.

We want to express gratitude to everyone who contributed to #FILM25. Through this project, we are reminded of the enduring impact of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, emphasising the critical role that collaborative initiatives play in shaping the the future. 

Click here to watch the film.