What is Gaisce?

• Gaisce is a direct challenge from the President of Ireland to all young people between 15 and 25 years

• Gaisce is non-competitive: the only person you compete against is yourself

• In 2014 over 20,000 young people enrolled in the Award

• Non-Competitive: only person you are in competition with is yourself • Everyone is unique, different, possessing different talents • Some may feel they have little in the way of talent but Gaisce enables them to set their own personal challenge and then try to achieve that goal • When we present the Gaisce Awards there are no first, second, or third places • All who achieve the required goals receive the same award • Open to all, regardless of ability.

3 Awards

Minimum Age Minimum Time Commitment

Bronze 15 years 26 Weeks

Silver 16 years 52 weeks

Gold 17 years 78 weeks

Achieving an Award

Set yourself a challenge in

4 sections

4 Sections

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

PERSONAL SKILL

PHYSICAL RECREATION

ADVENTURE JOURNEY

4 Sections

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

PERSONAL SKILL

PHYSICAL RECREATION

ADVENTURE JOURNEY

Complete an activity in each section to earn

an award

PAL

Each person participating in the Award programme must have a

PRESIDENT’S AWARD LEADER (PAL)

• The PAL is the person who will support them on your Gaisce journey • They are there to help, give advice, direct but not to do the work for them. • Their PAL is:

Bronze Award• A minimum of 1 hour a week is required in each of the first three

areas

1. Community Involvement 13 weeks

2. Personal Skill 13 weeks

3. Physical Recreation 13 weeks

+ extend your favourite activity to 26 weeks (13 + extra 13)

4. Adventure Journey 2 days, 1 night

• If they register now they are ready to start, so: • From next week they can begin your weekly 1 hr Community, 1 hr Skill, 1 hr Physical • Their weeks don’t have to be consecutive / one after another, so…

• They could be away on holidays and get nothing done, or • They could have an injury you may not be able to do your Physical for a number of weeks

• but that’s fine! They just continue counting their hours once they begin the activities again • Eventually they will do two activities for 13, and one for 26 weeks.

Community Involvement

• Does anybody here think they belong to a community?

• You are part of a community when you come here!

• What other communities are you a part of?

• They are part of at least 2 communities: 1. The community in this organisation (eg youth group, school) 2. The community where they live

• The work they do in this Community Involvement section can be done in any community that they are involved in, but must be done during their free time

Community Involvement

WHAT COULD I DO TO HELP PEOPLE

IN MY COMMUNITY?

Brainstorm with the group

Community Involvement

IMAGES TO GO HERE

Community Involvement• Working with young or old people

• School mentors

• Big brother / big sister

• Tuck shop

• Tidy Towns

• Community library

• Special needs

• RNLI

• Homework clubs

• Green schools

• Vincent de Paul

• Youth for Justice

• Charity shop

• Help to train a team

• Help to run a youth club

• Local church activities

• Special Olympics

• CoderDojo

Read through and expand as necessary: link to opportunities that exist in the local area or in your organisation.

Personal Skill

• Does anybody here think they have a personal skill?

WHAT SKILLS AM I CURRENTLY

LEARNING OR WOULD I LIKE TO

LEARN?

Brainstorm the Personal skills which they are currently acquiring

Personal Skill

IMAGES TO GO HERE

Personal Skill• Computers / ECDL

• School web site

• Musical instrument

• Speech & drama

• Set design

• Arts, crafts, painting

• Knitting, rug making, pottery

• Circus skills, juggling etc.

• Woodwork

• Mini Co.

• Young Social Innovators

• First Aid

• Sign Language

• Remember: sporting skills do not qualify in this section

• Can be self taught, e.g. learning the guitar • Online Courses • but must be verifiable by activity supervisor and PAL

Remember sport does not fit into the Personal Skill section because it belongs in the Physical Recreation section.

Physical Recreation

• Are you involved in any physical exercise?

WHAT CAN I DO TO KEEP FIT?

Brainstorm all the ways of keeping fit emphasising the importance of same.

Physical Recreation

IMAGES TO GO HERE

Physical Recreation• Athletics

• Basketball

• Canoeing

• Rugby

• Gym

• Badminton

• Walking Club

• Squash

• Martial arts

• Golf

• Cycling

• Football

• Swimming

• Yoga

• Surfing

• Dancing

Adventure Journey• Adventure Journeys can be undertaken by foot, bike,

or canoe

• There are two type of Adventure Journey:

1. Expedition: ‘A journey with a purpose.’

2. Exploration: ‘A purpose with a journey.’ This would involve research or surveying.

Adventure Journey

For the Bronze Award, you must

plan, prepare, and undertake

a 2 day, 1 night Adventure Journey in a group

covering a minimum distance of

25km walk / 100km cycle

Give some examples of Adventure Journeys, include local options to reduce cost.

Bronze Award• A minimum of 1 hour a week is required in each of the first three

areas

1. Community Involvement 13 weeks

2. Personal Skill 13 weeks

3. Physical Recreation 13 weeks

+ extend your favourite activity to 26 weeks (13 + extra 13)

4. Adventure Journey 2 days, 1 night

• Recap on requirements for the Bronze Award • Many will already be doing Physical and Skill so with the Adventure to be decided by the PAL it really is mostly about getting a Community Involvement option.

Silver Award• A minimum of 1 hour a week is required in each of the first three

areas

1. Community Involvement 26 Weeks

2. Personal Skill 26 Weeks

3. Physical Recreation 26 Weeks

If you do not hold a Bronze Award: extend your favourite activity to 52 weeks (26 + extra 26)

4. Adventure Journey 3 days, 2 nights

A brief look at what’s involved in the Silver and Gold sections with many exciting prospects.

Gold Award• A minimum of 1 hour a week is required in each of the first three

areas

1. Community Involvement 52 Weeks

2. Personal Skill 52 Weeks

3. Physical Recreation 52 Weeks

If you do not hold a Silver Award: extend your favourite activity to 78 weeks (52 + extra 26)

4. Adventure Journey 4 days, 3 nights

Gold AwardAdventure Journey Plan, prepare and undertake a

4 day, 3 night

Adventure Journey in a group covering a minimum total distance of

Walk: 80km / Cycle: 300km

Residential Project A shared activity with a group in a

residential setting for

5 days and 4 nights

Examples include:

International Camp

Lourdes as a helper

Share Respite

Application Fees

• Bronze: €15

• Silver: €20

• Gold: €25

What do I get?

• Certificate signed by the President

• Medal: Bronze, Silver or Gold

• Lapel Pin (badge) wear it with pride!

• A valuable addition to your CV

“A valuable addition to your CV”: many will be thinking about their future careers, path in life. Eventually they will apply for a job and get called for interview. With a Gaisce Award in their portfolio they will have an added advantage, having “been there, done that” and they can show they can set goals and achieve them.

What do I do next?• Meet your PAL and agree your challenges

• Go to the Gaisce website: www.gaisce.ie for more information and to complete the online application process

• Commence all activities

• Download and Complete record sheet – showing weekly signature of the activity supervisor / coach

• This acts as proof of attendance at agreed weekly activities for your PAL and for Gaisce

The Defence Forces Challenge

Every year the Irish Defence Forces bring 30 young people away on a 4 day adventure in late May / early June. If you would like to be part of the next adventure all you have to do is: • Be registered and doing Gaisce • Write a letter of application stating why you would like to be selected for the next adventure, include interests, hobbies, etc. • Inform your PAL • Send to the Gaisce Head Office • and you could be chosen!

Keep in Touch!

facebook.com/GaisceAward @GaisceAward

youtube.com/Gaisce1985 instagram.com/GaisceAward

What next?

CHALLENGE YOURSELF AND

DREAM BIG!

ARE YOU UP TO THE CHALLENGE?