‘17 under 17’ impressing in their communities

The Electric Ireland ‘17 under 17’ series celebrates Young St Vincent de Paul members who were chosen for their social justice contribution to their communities. The students gained an understanding of often unseen health issues in their communities. They are photographed by South African photographer Kevin Goss-Ross, some holding personal items that represent their motivation

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Sinead Purkiss, 16, Co Wexford "I feel that Young SVP highlights that our generation have the power to change the future. It helps you step out of your own shoes and focus on helping others. In Young SVP we all worked as a team and learned new skills by stepping out of our comfort zones. I've learned that confidence is not a personality trait. It is a skill which you can improve on. If you try and improve it you will be grateful for the rest of your life."

Jack Hickey, 17, Co Tipperary "Young SVP is a fantastic outlet for young people to channel their energy into positive work. It is essential that we recognise the different societal roles of certain groups and that we try and bridge the gap between these groups in a safe, engaging and positive environment. Through Young SVP I've learned a lot, not only about myself, but also other people. I have gained great confidence from my involvement, socially and with regards to academia."

Glen Harte, 14, Co Down "My granny always told me, 'It's good to help people.' What I learned about myself is that I really like helping people and making a difference. I also learned that I enjoy team work, with each member playing their part on a particular project. It has really helped me with my public speaking. Even though there are a lot of us in the group, everyone's opinion is listened to. Through our work with other schools, I learned that I can make a big difference in my community."

Tegan Hurley, 17, Co Cork "Young SVP helped me realise that it's just as important to look after our mental health as our physical health, as it affects the way we approach everyday life. We learned ways of coping with difficult situations that we then taught to younger students in our school. The work we did made me realise that even the small things we do to help someone can have a huge impact in their life."

Tue Apr 05 2016 - 16:54

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