For my Leadership in Action project I joined a non-profit in London that works on improving democratic education in the UK. The small organisation has had a significant impact, connecting with thousands of students and dozens of MPs, MSs and council leaders every year. I chose it because of my passion for promoting equality in education and encouraging children and teenagers to get involved in their communities and the wider political landscape.
Throughout my six weeks with The Politics Project, I mainly focused on a self-directed outline for a competition, which aims to encourage political participation among young people. Working with the team, stakeholders and agencies, I led the ideation, planning and creative direction of the contest, which is being launched this month.
As I had a lot of control over my project, I felt it important to consult a variety of people. I did this through focus groups with teachers and youth workers, as well as asking students directly what they think would encourage them to participate. This greatly informed every part of the process.
My colleagues and I quickly realised how much work was involved in creating this competition. The decision was taken to outsource some of the work. I researched and got quotes from several agencies that would help with the creative side of things, as well as judging. This was fun but also challenging as I had to take into account sometimes conflicting opinions and make decisions.
I liaised with the organisation's social media strategist to design a comms pack that could be used when each stage of the competition was rolled out. I also sourced prizes that varied from cash to cultural experiences.
Alongside my work on the competition, I helped facilitate 'digital dialogue' sessions between politicians and students, preparing both parties in advance and debriefing with them after. It was a way of getting the two demographics, who rarely communicate directly with each other, to have a conversation about the issues that matter to them and how they can create change. It was a privilege to witness such impactful discussions.
While I've always had an interest in politics and, working as a journalist, would have a good idea about current affairs in Ireland, working in the UK was a learning curve. I had to very quickly become familiar with both education and political systems in England, Scotland and Wales. I feel I now have a much better understanding of Britain on sociological and economic levels. It was fantastic getting to work with British people from different backgrounds who were all welcoming and very good at explaining things.
Overall, my LiA experience was really enjoyable and hugely beneficial for myself - and hopefully the organisation too. They seemed very happy with the work I did in the summer and are beginning to use some of he resources I created now.