"Youth always was and still is a vital factor within our organisation. The involvement of young people ensures the continued growth and development of SVP - we don't want to be seen as an 'Old and Ageing' body of people unconnected and frozen in the past.
We live in a society where the faces and voices of the poor are, all too often, absent from our newspapers and TV screens and there is a risk that poverty has become invisible. But hopefully with more young people getting involved in volunteering and community based work we can highlight the fact that poverty does exist and illustrate that we can, if we make the effort, do something about it." Larry McArdle (Regional President) |
click on any image below to enlarge | St Patrick's Armagh branch hosted a successful cross-community conference, aimed at informing local students about their role in helping to alleviate suffering and hardship through volunteering in social justice charities such as the Society of St Vincent de Paul. Around 150 students, community group representatives and SVP members gathered in the Armagh City Hotel to listen to several keynote speakers including Nigel Williams (NI Commissioner for Children & Young People), Professor Eithne McLaughlin, (Queen's University Belfast) and His Honour Mr Justice Gillen (Supreme Court of Judicature). |
Kathy Donnelly - Armagh SVP
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| Organiser and Armagh SVP Youth co-ordinator Kathy Donnelly, welcomed all to the event and reminded the young people present that they are valuable members of their communities and hoped that they could build on what they learn today. |
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Elizabeth Devlin (St Patrick's Armagh Vice President), gave an informative talk on the history of the Society in Armagh since 1853 to the present day. "We are always here to help people and also to empower people to help themselves, encouraging and assuring where, when and how we can". |  Elizabeth Devlin - Armagh SVP |
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 Hon Justice Gillen | Guest Speaker Mr Justice Gillen expressed his 'profound concern' that in today's society, too much emphasis was put on the rich and famous, which had led to a lack of philosophical rational. "In my opinion, the measure of civilised society is the protection of the weak and submissive". |
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Armagh conference President Michael Campbell paid tribute to all involved, and commented "It is heart warming to see so many young people showing a profound interest in those around them". In 2004 the Armagh branch of the Society visited 375 families across our communities plus many elderly and isolated individuals in hospitals and care centres. |  Michael Campbell - Armagh SVP |
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| | Guest Speakers - Kathy Donnelly & Larry McArdle (SVP), Justice Gillen, Prof Eithne McLaughlin (QUB), Nigel Williams (NI Childrens' Commissioner), Michael Campbell and Elizabeth Devlin (SVP) | | | Students reflecting during interval | Group of local students from Armagh | Members of St Patrick's conference Armagh with Guest Speakers | SVP Youth members | Sarah Rankin , Fr Sean Dooley (Armagh) and Reg President Larry McArdle |
