STOP What You’re Doing and LISTEN - Young People Need to Be Heard.

Young people want to be heard, we at GwirVol understand this, but maybe sometimes, young people might feel that their opinions fall on deaf ears. GwirVol’s partner, Funky Dragon is an organisation that cares about the views of young people. They encourage young people to speak out about what needs to be improved in their community and this then leads to action being taken. GwirVol admires the young volunteers who are bold enough to express their opinions. Have you got an opinion on how things are being run in your school or university? Or have you been judging the way the NHS operates? GwirVol is asking you - Don’t just have a view, have a voice.

Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.
~ Bertrand Russell

GwirVol agrees with the ideas of Funky Dragon that people need to pay attention to the opinions of young people. To improve young people’s lives, who better to consult than a young person themselves? Children today may feel that they’re views don’t count, but they are mistaken. GwirVol recognises that young people are the future and so to build a better prospect, we need to listen to them. GwirVol feel so strongly about this idea that we even have a group of young volunteers called GwirForce, who lead a youth initiative. They endeavour to encourage youth volunteering. Because we try to promote youth volunteering, our panel of volunteers are within the age range of 16-25, therefore GwirVol are also paying attention to the opinions of young people.

GwirVol want people to know, (young people especially) that we are extremely concerned with the views of young people, and so being partners with Funky Dragon promotes this. The organisation aims to express that the opinions of young people really do matter, and they encourage young people to speak out about current issues affecting them. The reason behind their organisation is to convey to young people that speaking out about issues affecting them will essentially improve their life and others too.

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.
~William James
 

The Funky Dragon website acts as a stage for young people to display their views. Funky Dragon’s main tasks are to make sure that the views of children and young people, aged 0 to 25 years are heard, particularly by the Welsh Assembly Government. This is because the Welsh Assembly Government has the ability to change certain issues that affect young people. Funky Dragon provides a great interactive experience on their website. The charity offers forums, exhibits reports and newsletters, and even the opportunity to take part in The Community Channel.

Funky Dragon’s management committee, (know as trustees) consists of four professionals, four people who are over the age of 18, and four people who are under the age of 18. Although these trustees are responsible for everything that Funky Dragon does, they are lead by the views of other young people also. The eight people, who are under the age of 18, and over the age of 18, are elected by the Grand Council Members. The Grand Council comprises 100 young people. This shows that young people have given their views, and action is being taken to convey their opinions.

Volunteering for Funky Dragon may even lead to traveling as Isabella Hughes from Ceredigion once experienced,

‘Meeting people from different backgrounds was like being plunged into a world I wasn’t used to but volunteering has made me a better person because I’ve made some really good friends.

This year I’ve been on a lot of the planning committees, which was very interesting. I have to plan the residentials for the Grand Council, which means making the schedules to make sure everything is going to fit in. I’m responsible for organising where the breaks are, when we’re going to leave, when we arrive and what’s going to happen during those times.

I’ve been doing the UNCRC work and going to the residentials. Volunteering with Funky Dragon can create so many opportunities. When I was made into a UK Young Ambassador I got the chance to travel to Belfast and meet other people from all over the UK!’

As stated earlier, Funky Dragon supplies a forum to their users on their website. The forum allows young people to express their opinions in a subtle way by discussing opinions with fellow young people. Young people are asked their opinions on a range of topics, such as community, education and health issues. The forum gives children a sense of independence, it allows users of the website to break away from the mind set that they are young people, and instead allows them to see that they are on the way to becoming young adults.

Although Funky Dragon is serious about getting young people’s opinions heard, the organisation is also keen for website users to have fun on their website. The site provides website links to take part in games, jokes, and even a media section where you can record yourself reporting on things you’re interested in and then upload the video to the website. This supports the fact that Funky Dragon are interested in what young people have to say. Combined with the forum that allows young people to speak out, and links to other engaging sites, Funky Dragon’s website can be seen as a place to have fun but also make a difference.
 

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
~Mahatma Gandhi

GwirVol can’t stress how much we support Funky Dragon and their desire to listen to young people’s opinions. One diminutive view could make an immense difference. If you’ve got something to say, an opinion to express or a view that desperately needs to be heard, then click on the link below and take pride in the fact that you’re speaking out and trying to make a change.

www.funkydragon.org