Picture this: More than 300 young people, politicians, teachers and youth leaders, representing communities from all over these islands and from countries such as, Mozambique, Kenya and South Africa in a conference room in a hotel in Sligo. The purpose of this diverse gathering: to learn from each other and to explore the ways in which young people can contribute to discussions on the issues of peace, justice and reconciliation, both local and global.

Despite differences of religion, nationality and cultural background they share one vision - young people bringing justice to the world. They want to replace conflict with peace, famine with fairness, oppression with justice.

Is such a scenario possible? Is true solidarity and partnership within these islands, and with the Third World possible? Irish young people think so. and each year throughout the country young people take imaginative action to bring about change.

A survey conducted by DEFY - Development Education for Youth - showed that, despite the fact that one out of every two young people felt that their opinions were not thought to be important by the "older generation", 66 per cent of the young people surveyed were convinced they have the ability to do something at national and international levels.

Every year during November, DEFY co-ordinates One World Week, a week of youth-led awareness-raising on issues of local and global justice. Thousands of young people in clubs and schools throughout Ireland, North and South, learn, educate others and actively campaign on these issues.

In 1995, for example, 80,000 young people took part in local and national events during One World Week focusing on a major conflict issue, landmines.

In 1998, One World Week activities will focus upon the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the role of rights and responsibilities in the lives of young people in Ireland and other parts of the world.

Some of the major issues about which young people have expressed concerns include:

environmental degradation;

threats to community spirit;

the decline of the family;

health issues including cancer and AIDS;

the increasing inequalities between the rich and the poor.

Young people not only possess a "preferred" vision of the future but they are also capable of suggesting ways of realising this vision. Some of their suggestions include, for example:

increased cross-Border communication;

the need for fairness in world trade;

the abolition of Third World debts;

greater awareness and understanding of the position of marginalised groups in Irish society, in particular Travellers and refugees.

Young people in Ireland can and do get involved in campaigning for change - challenging important institutions and governmental decisionmakers who have a huge say over world social and economic development. And they do make a difference.

Padraig Quigley Kevin Kelly , DEFY