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Cloughleigh teens take action for their community


A NEW group has been helping young people in Cloughleigh to develop their talents for the betterment of their local community. The junior youth group has just recently started in the area and is aimed at young people aged 11 to 14. Already, they have organised a litter clean-up, with plans for even more action in the  future.

The group has been started by Limerick student Stephen Murphy. He told The Clare Champion that although they have just begun, he has been amazed by how much these young people care about their local community.
“Everyone is so excited about this group, many young people have been learning about how to develop their talents and qualities and how to improve their area. This is part of a worldwide junior youth spiritual empowerment programme. There are a lot of connotations around spirituality. But this is for people of all different backgrounds and different religions to really think about how we are not just material beings but that we also have a spiritual side and we should develop those qualities for the betterment of others.
“What underlies this programme is that if we are to contribute to the betterment of the world, we need a strong sense of purpose. First, we need to develop our inherent potential, what makes us special and secondly, we must learn how these talents can benefit others.
“The programme is inspired by the Baha’i faith and the common thing of that is the oneness of religion. We recognise that all religions pretty much teach the same thing about loving each other and helping each other. In the Cloughleigh group, there are people from Christian backgrounds, Muslim backgrounds, atheists. It’s for all people. There are 15 groups altogether in the Limerick and Clare area, with two in Ard Caoin and Roslevan and 90% of those junior youths would not be Baha’i.”
The 21-year-old student has relations in Ennis and it was through engaging with the young people of Cloughleigh that he decided to set up the group here.
“They saw how this group could act as a kind of springboard for real change in their area. The response we had was so positive, we really saw that they understood there was a need for change. When we talk about progress, sometimes you might just think of material progress but the young people realised that we need spiritual progress also to really lead to a more peaceful environment.”
Stephen studies psychology and sociology in UL and is dedicating his work experience year to developing this project. However, the group is very much run by the young people themselves, Stephen insisted. “We don’t tell them what to do, it’s down to them. We realise that they have such capacity and potential and that this is something that has to come from them.”
Recently, the youths suggested that a clean-up of their community be carried out.
“We went picking up litter and as we went around, people started coming out and asking what we were doing, so we had a chance to share with them what the group was all about. By the end, there were lots of people joining in. I was struck by the altruistic nature of people who when they see things happening in their neighbourhood, they really want to be a part of something.”
Although it’s still early days for the group, Stephen believes it has great potential, not only for the betterment of Cloughleigh, but for farther afield.
“So far it’s been amazing working with these junior youths. We always hear that people have a lot of things to give to their community but when you really speak to them and hear their thoughts first hand and see their concerns about their area, I find it quite touching. They really care about their environment and their community. There is a quotation in Baha’i that you should regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value and that education can alone cause it to reveal its treasures and enable mankind to benefit there from. This underlies the programme. We believe these juniors have so much potential and if we really hear what they have to say and discuss these things with them, what they will come up with will lead to a transformation in the very fabric of their community.
“It’s so exciting to see this first hand, the concerns they have and the potential that they really do have to contribute to the betterment of their community and in turn, the betterment of Ennis and in turn, the world.”
The group currently meet in the homes of its members, with Stephen acknowledging the support of the young people’s parents. “They are an essential part of the programme. If we are going to be building a community, we have to take into account the parents who are so essential to the lives of the junior youths and the community.”
The group is currently working on new ideas. “At the moment, they are talking about how there are a lot of young people in the area who look up to their age group, so they are now thinking of maybe doing a class with them which should be exciting.” For details on how to join the group, contact Stephen on 085 1068505.

 

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