THE CEIFIN CENTRE

Conference 2005

"Filling the Vacuum?"

Economic and social dynamics have had profound changes on the way we live today. Educational, economic and cultural developments have given people a self-confidence that was previously lacking.

However, negative aspects indicate that many young people are growing up alone. People are becoming isolated. Family structures and their support mechanisms such as community, sport and religions are under pressure. The human spirit is becoming diminished.

The challenge for the future is to explore how Irish society is going to develop and progress, to determine the elements that will foster and nurture a sense of community and to ascertain the interventions we need to establish and to promote a strong sense of belonging.

Céifin has been exploring and working the issues around change over the past seven years. In 2004  we tried  'Imagining the Future'. In Conference 2005  we sought to explore the vacuum created by the disconnections people have from their community. We listened to and discussed positive stories of how some young people are responding to the challenge, and we underlined the importance of 'witness' in determining our future. This was a particularly successful conference, very well attended, with excellent presentations and lively feedback from the floor.