Horizons Expo

November

Final Exhibitors Sign Up for Horizons Expo

Posted: 08-11-2004
The final exhibitors for the inaugural Horizons Expo have now been confirmed with major organisations Amnesty International, Enable Ireland, the Presidents Award, the Samaritans and Raleigh International completing an all-star line-up of exhibitors. With the final exhibitors now confirmed, the Horizons Expo promises to showcase a wide range of lifetime opportunities to young people in Ireland. Such opportunities range from teaching placements in Africa and Asia; volunteering opportunities at home and abroad and career tips from professionals drawn from top civil society organisations such as Concern Worldwide, Special Olympics Ireland and the Wheel. For a full list of exhibitors, click here.
To coincide with the event, the Washington-Ireland Program has also announced that it is bringing forward applications for its 2005 summer Program. This year's applications now open on November 22 and representatives from the Washington-Ireland Program will be on hand to meet with potential programme applicants and discuss how best to apply for the Program.

October

Nine more organisation confirm Horizons Expo attendance

Posted: 19-10-2004
As the inaugural Expo draws near, organisations representing all aspects of civil society have signed up to take part in the inaugural Expo. Among those signing up include internationally focussed organisations Volunteer Services International and Leargas. The Irish Refugee Council, Age Action Ireland, the ISPCC, The Wheel, Barretstown and Barnardo's will also have stands on the day, and are keen to engage with interested young people on how they can get involved. For more on all our exhibitors, click here.

One Foundation back inaugural Expo

Posted: 11-10-2004
The Horizons Expo received a major boost this week as the One Foundation announced funding for the Expo. The One Foundation, which has as its guiding principle, the goal of working with others to overcome poverty and reinforce the rights of vulnerable people, funds causes around the world, but in particular in Ireland and Vietnam. One has a particular interest in early stage "social entrepreneurs" - people with a big idea that tackles an entrenched social problem in Ireland, and the leadership skills to deliver that. One Foundation believes that there is nothing as powerful as a big new idea in the hands of extraordinary individuals. The WIP Alumni Network is delighted that the Foundation holds the same hopes for the Expo as the Network does. For more on the One Foundation, click here.

September

Special Olympics Ireland to have key stand at Horizons Expo

Posted: 25-09-2004
Following a meeting with Expo organisers Colin Andrews and Aideen Keenan at their headquarters in Dublin, Special Olympics Ireland has announced their involvement in the inaugural Horizons Expo at Trinity College this November. Special Olympics Ireland is an all-island, year-round training and competition programme for children and adults with a learning disability, especially renowned in Ireland for the huge success of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games. Special Olympics Ireland will be one of four key exhibitors at the Expo, and hope to use the opportunity to engage with a key potential source of volunteers for the organisation's efforts in its year-round programmes. For more about Special Olympics Ireland here.

Concern Worldwide unveiled as key exhibitor of Expo

Posted: 20-09-2004
Concern Worldwide, Ireland’s largest international NGO has announced it will be a key exhibitor at the inaugural Horizons Expo this November. Concern works to alleviate extreme poverty through humanitarian relief, development and advocacy. Concern is internationally regarded for its emergency and development programmes in 28 least developing countries. For more about Concern and its activities, click here.

Suas announce participation in Horizons Expo

Posted: 19-09-2004
SUAS Educational Development, Ireland's only charity solely dedicated to supporting education in the developing world, has announced its participation at the inaugural Horizons Expo, in Trinity College, Dublin, this coming November, 2004. Suas offer summer-long exchanges to Kenya and India for third-level students and other interested young adults. This summer alone, the charity sent over 60 young adults to schools in deprived areas of Calcutta and Nairobi.
Suas, possibly Ireland fastest growing charity, also provides financial aid to the schools with which it has links, using imaginative fundraising events throughout the year to help ensure long-term solutions to problems of poverty and underdevelopment. At the Expo, staff from Suas will be available to discuss its exchange programme with interested college students, as well as those who are interested in helping with its fundraising activities and development education courses across Ireland.

Speaking at the recent Washington Ireland Programme Conference, Dr. Colman Farrell, CEO of SUAS, welcomed the launch of the Expo, commenting “The Horizons Expo offers a unique platform to engage a pool of future leaders with leading organisations in the voluntary sector. SUAS look forward to participating in this unique event.” For further information about SUAS click here.

WIP Alumni Network announces backing for Horizons Expo

Posted: 18-09-2004
The WIP Alumni Network has officially announced its support for the inaugural Horizons Expo, following its fourth AGM, in the Canada Rooms at Queen's University, Belfast, Saturday 18th of September last. The Network, which has as one of its key aims the support of ventures that promote the goals of public service and youth leadership, unanimously passed a proposal to support the inaugural Horizons Expo in Trinity College, Dublin, this coming November. Horizons Expo Committee Member Ronan Lyons, a WIP graduate of 2002, was also later elected as Chair of the Network for the coming year. Among the goals of the new Executive are the development of a strategic plan and a restructuring of the finances, to ensure even stronger support for ventures such the Horizons Expo, and other alumni ventures such as YES International. For more about the alumni network and its activities, click here.

Horizons Expo Launched at Conference X

Posted: 17-09-2004
The Horizons Expo was officially launched at Conference X, Belfast, Friday 17th September last. Colin Andrews, a WIP graduate of 2002 and a panellist at the Conference's afternoon session, took the opportunity to announce that the inaugual Expo, would take place in Trinity College, Dublin, in November 2004.
The conference, organised by the Alumni Network of the Washington-Ireland Program (WIP) to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Program, had as its theme the celebration of young people in leadership. Opening remarks were made by Mike Mills, OBE, newly elected Chair of the Ireland Board of the WIP, and Carol Wheeler, founder of the Program. The keynote address was given by Albert Reynolds, former Taioseach, while Sir Kenneth Bloomfield, former head of the Civil Service in Northern Ireland also spoke during the afternoon session. Closing remarks were made by Executive Director of the WIP, Paul Costello. More on the Conference can be found at here. For more about the Conference, click here.