merrion street

Pictured are from left: Gina Quinn, President, National College of Ireland; Children's Minister Katherine Zappone, Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Paschal Donohoe and Josephine Bleach, Director, of Early Learning Initiative at NCI

The “Building Hope for Brighter Futures” report was launched today. Children and young people from Dublin’s North East Inner City are proud to launch their report ‘Building Hope for Brighter Futures’, containing their unique views on their community and its future.

The report clearly demonstrates that the children and young people want their voices to be heard by adults, both locally and at policy level, in particular they want the ‘important people’ to hear their story. Highlighted in the report are the positives in the community, especially the community spirit, mutual respect among community members and local afterschool and youth services. The areas they want to see tackled include drug problems, homelessness, broken facilities and recent violent incidences in the area.