Connect to Citizenship Youth Peaceplus initiative launched in Donegal

The Connect to Citizenship Youth Peaceplus Programme was launched at the Foróige Youth Project offices, Spencer House, Letterkenny. 

Delivered by Foróige in partnership with Donegal County Council, the programme aims to empower young people to develop leadership skills, active citizenship, and cross-community understanding across the county.

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This two-year initiative has received €200,000 through Donegal County Council’s €7.6 million Peaceplus Local Co-Designed Action Plan, under Theme 2: Thriving and Peaceful Communities.

The launch event was attended by the Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council and Chair of Donegal’s Peaceplus Partnership, Cllr Paul Canning, along with Cllr Gerry McMonagle and Foróige Area Manager, Claire Gavigan, who highlighted the programme’s importance for youth engagement and peacebuilding in Donegal.

Cllr Paul Canning said: “ Through this programme, young people aged 10–18 from all walks of life , minority ethnic communities, new communities, those who feel isolated, and majority communities will come together to learn, grow, and lead. Our mission is simple yet profound: to empower young people as changemakers, leaders who build bridges, challenge prejudice, and create communities where everyone belongs.”

The Connect to Citizenship programme, commenced in September, will engage 265–300 young people over the next two years. Through leadership training, creative citizenship projects, intercultural engagement, and youth-led community initiatives, participants will develop practical skills in dialogue, conflict resolution, and community activism. 

They will learn empathy and resilience, discover the power of their voices, and gain the confidence to challenge racism, sectarianism, and isolation with courage and hope.

Through cross-border collaboration with youth organisations in Northern Ireland, the programme will also create opportunities for shared learning and cultural exchange, strengthening civil society and building deeper connections across the island.

The programme will be delivered using Foróige’s proven, evidence-based models, including Citizenship, Leadership for Life, Be Healthy, Be Happy, Creative Expression, and Future-Proof, providing young people with a wide range of skills and opportunities to develop as leaders, active citizens, and confident individuals.

Claire Gavigan, Foróige Area Manager, said: “Connect to Citizenship gives young people real opportunities to be heard, to lead, and to feel a strong sense of belonging in their community. This programme creates safe spaces where young people can explore identity, culture, and difference in a positive way. It encourages them to step forward with confidence, to challenge discrimination, and to shape the kind of community they want to live in.

What makes this initiative so powerful is that it is youth-led, young people are not just participants; they are drivers of change. Through creative projects, cross-community dialogue, and real-life leadership experiences, they are building skills that will stay with them for life.”

Connect to Citizenship is supported by Peaceplus, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).