Geashill's Kate looks forward to becoming leader in local community

An 18-year old Geashill student has had the experience of a lifetime this year when she was selected to join an international charity that empowers young people to become leaders in their own communities.

Kate O'Connor's membership of Friends Forever International (FFI) has resulted in her taking part in the charity's 2025 Youth Development Programme on their campuses in Northern Ireland and also in the United States.

Reflecting on her experience Kate said becoming involved with FFI has allowed her to feel “more comfortable” sharing her thoughts and communicating with those around her. “I’m looking forward to showing people that I’m capable of making a difference” she added.

Since the launch of its island-wide programme in 2020, FFI has brought together students from diverse communities for cultural residential trips that develop leadership skills and give them practical tools to make positive changes in their communities.

The programme began with a week-long team building trip at the FFE Centre at Annalong, a coastal campus nestled at the base of the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland. This intensive training prepared students for the next phase of the programme—a two-week skill building trip to the United States. There, the students met with leaders working in fields they’re passionate about, while living and learning as a team, supporting each other through challenges that expanded their perspectives and strengthened their confidence as young leaders.

One of the key components of the youth leadership programme is its public speaking curriculum. Each participant crafted and presented a personal speech about their “why”—a community issue they are passionate about and rooted in their own experiences.

Kate O'Connor focused her speech on learning how to push past the anxiety that once paralysed her in order to embrace life fully, presenting it to community leaders in the US. These powerful speeches served as the foundation for each student’s Community Action Project, which they designed during their programme and will now implement in their home community.

The programme is part of a broader mission to help youth become the best versions of themselves so they can help their communities do the same. FFI is a charity with decades of experience empowering young people to become leaders that bridge divides across communities. With campuses in Northern Ireland, the United States, and Belize, FFI has supported thousands of young people to find their voice and use it to make positive change.

All programmes are provided completely free of cost to participants and their families, removing barriers to opportunity and ensuring that youth from all backgrounds have access to life-changing leadership development.

To learn more about Friends Forever International and its global youth leadership programmes, visit https://www.ff.international or follow @friendsforeverintl on Instagram.