Wellington Park Hotel Belfast click to enlarge Judy Colhoun, director of development for "Aware, Defeat Depression", spoke openly and honestly about the effects and symptoms of depression, especially amongst young adults in our communities. click to enlarge Judy spoke at length about how the ability to talk and confide in others can help lessen the burden of mental strains of depressive thoughts. The important thing is to make young people aware that organisations like theirs exist in order to help, advise and educate. Aware, Defeat Depression run a vital education programme that many schools in NI subscribe to..... read more...     After lunch Buster Cox from the Belfast Law Centre gave an extremely thought provoking talk about the difficulties and legalities facing many immigrants who come to Northern Ireland every year.   click to enlarge Using prepared case studies, youth members were challenged to discuss the situations of asylum seekers and EU nationals who can sometimes face harsh treatment in their new found home.	The Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast was the venue for this year's "Annual Youth Conference".   Over 120 young delegates attended the one-day event on Friday 19th October 2007.   Fr Raymond McCullagh opened the proceedings with prayer and reflection using the youth members to present the "thought for the day".   Newly elected regional president Cormac Wilson officially opened the conference and spoke about the importance of Youth being seen and seeing themselves as rightful and equal members of the Society as a whole. click to enlarge     Ciaran Reid and David Comiskey from St Patrick's Grammar Armagh then presented a very thoughtful account of the different types of work that they carry out including visitation, the hamper appeal and the sponsor a child programme that they run. click to enlarge Dominican College Fortwilliam Edmund Rice College Glengormley St Malachy's College Belfast St Dominic's Grammar Belfast St Louise's Comprehensive Belfast Our Lady & St Patrick's College Knock St Colman's High Ballynahinch St Patrick's College Armagh St Catherine's College Armagh St Colman's College Newry St Cecilia's Secondary Derry Lumen Christi College Derry St Mary's High School Limavady
click to enlarge In an attempt to encourage attendance at Camp Vincent, Claire and Laura from Dominican Cllg Fortwilliam - and Barney from Our Lady & St Patrick's Knock gave a resoundingly positive talk about their experiences. The final school presentation came in the form of an excellent musical input from Andrew and Patrick from Our Lady & St Patrick's Knock. Both year 14 students sang and played "Indiscriminate Act of Kindness". click to enlarge   Workshops Cormac Wilson's address Aileen Coney, Judy Colhoun and Fr Ray McCullagh