Galway digital hub to help give young people new skills
A new Digital Hub opened in Ballybane this week is set to become a focal point for digital upskilling and creative development for young people and youth workers in the local community.
Launched last week by Foróige, Ireland’s national youth development organisation, with the support of MetLife Ireland through the MetLifeFoundation, it will provide a safe, accessible, and innovative space for young people to engage with a range of future-focused programmes, equipping them with essential 21st-century skills.
STEM activities and programmes at the Ballybane Hub include:
* Creative Digital Skills and Innovation: Encouraging digital citizenship and digital literacy.
* STEM-Focused Learning: Hosting STEM Special Interest Clubs and activities like robotics and coding workshops.
* Digital Media Production: Including digital audio production for recording music and podcasts, and Smartphone Filmmaking.
* Entrepreneurship and Professional Skills: Offering tools to support Foróige NFTE (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship) participants with skills like running social media campaigns, logo creation, and making physical or digital prototypes.
* Digital Youth Work Training: Building the confidence of youth workers by providing practical skills to integrate digital tools into youth work and match them to youth work outcomes.
"This Digital Hub represents a vital investment in the young people of Galway,” said Anne Marie Regan, Foróige Area Manager. “We are grateful for the investment by MetLife in supporting young people to grow their empathy , critical thinking, and digital citizenship.
“These skills are essential, not just to young people’s engagement with digital technologies, but also in their day-to-day lives and relationships, supporting their personal and social development, their values, and their ability to connect with others positively.
“Our goal is to build confidence and provide practical skills that help young people develop consciously and prepare for their future'
Wayne Gibbons, Ireland Country Lead for MetLife, said that MetLife had been in Ireland for almost 20 years with offices in Dublin and Galway.
The MetLife Foundation made significant contributions to strengthen communities where MetLife had a presence globally and was committed to improving the financial health of underserved communities.
"By investing in digital skills and youth development, we are helping to empower young people to navigate the modern world and unlock their full potential," he added.