A massive youth party will take place in the city’s new youth café this Saturday from 1pm to mark the launch of this new service.
The Youth Café, formerly known as The Gaf, is situated in Fairgreen Road adjacent to the Jigsaw service and is managed by Foróige, the National Youth Development Organisation.
The party is entitled It’s About Time and will feature a youth band competition. Six bands will take part - South Ember, One Hour Shower, Double Bluff, A Day Next Week, Fiction, and Floods of Fear.
There will also be DJ sets, dance, rap, beat box, drama, and circus performers and surprise guests. The party is open to all those aged 14 to 18 and admission is free,
The café will provide a safe and secure environment for young people to hang out and chill with their friends.
Young people will also be given the opportunity to take ownership of the café by getting involved in a take-over committee and work with other members, volunteers, and staff to organise events such as evening entertainment, a Wii face off, or a night for up and coming youth bands. Hip hop dance, art, drama, and DJ workshops will also take place.
“Young people will be given the opportunity to participate in other programmes operated by Foróige including Youth Leadership, Youth Entrepreneurship, and Citizenship,” says café manager Paul Tannian.
“We are also looking forward to developing strong links and partnerships with other youth serving organisations in providing a comprehensive youth service including Jigsaw, Youth Work Ireland, HSE services, Galway City VEC, Gardaí, and local schools.”
Following this opening, the café drop in will be open each week day after school and Saturday afternoons. Other activities/clubs will also take place outside these hours.
Parents are invited to call in and view the venue and meet staff any weekday morning. Those interested in volunteering opportunities can call into the café or check out Facebook – Youth café Galway city.
