Youth Board Support Group 23/24

Meet the LIFT Youth Board Support Group 2023/24

The LIFT Ireland’s Youth Board Support Group is a group of inspirational young adults supporting LIFT Ireland in its mission to transform Irish society by enabling development of Leaders of Character. The Youth Board Support Groups aim is to develop ideas and ways to shape leadership for the youth of Ireland. We want to ensure that the youth voice is heard in Ireland.

LIFT Ireland - Youth Board Support Group

Youth Board Support Group Secretary – Hannah Dormer

Hannah Dormer is a Commerce International student from the National University of Galway and is currently working as an Intern for LIFT Ireland. Hannah was one of the first 15 transition year students to be trained up as a LIFT facilitator in 2018, and Hannah’s school, Confey College was the first school in Ireland to pilot the rollout of LIFT roundtables with their second year students.

Elizbeth Zion - Youth Board Support Group

Youth Board Support Group Member – Elizabeth Zion

Elizabeth Zion is a speaker & writer whose story has inspired people by showing them that their circumstances don’t have to define them.

Elizabeth was born into direct provision and raised in a single parent headed household. She lacked a stable upbringing moving 9 times throughout her childhood and even experiencing homelessness at the age of 14. Despite all of these negatives, she doesn’t let her past define her.

Her faith, resilience and determination for success has been recognized by national and international media including the Irish Times, Newstalk, RTE and most notably TED; with her TED talk on family reunification receiving 1.8 million views and +50,000 likes.

Her deep understanding of global inequalities, social injustice and human rights mobilization has led her to work for organizations like Médecins Sans Frontières, UNICEF and the Legal Aid Board. She is now in her final year at UCD where she reads Politics, International Relations and Social Justice.

Youth Board Support Group Member – Caitlin-Faye Maniti

Caitlin-Faye Maniti is a 20 year old advocate from County Donegal. She is a current student at Maynooth University studying Entrepreneurship, Caitlin is passionate about youth participation and equality. She has been involved in advocacy since secondary school and in 2022 she served as the Uachtarán of the Irish Second-Level Students Union. There she represented students on a national level in education policy and curricula development within the Department of Education. She is now involved with the National Youth Assembly in Ireland and the Shared Island Youth Forum actively promoting the topics of education and inclusion. She began taking part in LIFT roundtables during her Leaving Certificate and continued with it ever since. With her experience in advocacy she believes that leadership is such an important muscle and LIFT is an amazing way to strengthen it.

Caitlin Faye Maniti - Youth Board Support Group

Fiachra Lambe - LIFT Youth Board Support Group

Youth Board Support Group Member – Fiachra Lambe

Fiachra Lambe, 19, is a Law student at the University of Galway. He is from Drogheda, Co. Louth and works part-time at Tirlán. Fiachra underwent LIFT Facilitator training at the University of Galway last year and has enjoyed every step of the way. After a career-ending contact sports injury, Fiachra qualified as a GAA football referee. He says it’s great to be back on the field, but this time, he has a different role! Fiachra is a determined young man and is a born leader who works well with others and on his initiative.

Youth Board Support Group Member – Olajumoke Ayodeji

Olajumoke Ayodeji is a 3rd year Commerce international student at UCD. I am on an Erasmus in UC3M Spain, enriching my language and cross-cultural communication skills. I am a writer, orator and advocate of the importance of female education in poverty alleviation. I served as a Spanish society auditor and had the opportunity to work as a Lift facilitator in my second year of college, and I loved the experience. I am passionate about working with people and making an impact. LIFT aims to reach as many people as possible and develop leaders who make a positive societal difference. I am delighted to be a part of this programme.

Olajumoke Ayodeji - LIFT Youth Board Support Group

Youth Board Support Group Chairperson – Steve McCarron

Steve McCarron, is based in Cork Ciy and Head of Marketing at LIFT Ireland who oversees the Youth Board Support Group. He is passionate about the importance of sport in youth development and creating more confident young people through sports. Steve has previously lived and worked in New Zealand and Hong Kong. He is excited about the development of the youth group. Steve is fascinated about human behaviour and LIFT Ireland’s potential to create better leaders across Ireland.

LIFT Youth Board Support Group

The first LIFT Youth Board Support Group met for the first time on March 4th 2022 in Dublin. The inaugural group included Hannah and Elizabeth as well as Eva Kennedy, Kanaar Bell and Peter Ryan who delivered an amazing Youth Adult Leaders video.

As the second iteration of the Youth Board Support Group met in November, CEO Joanne Hession who was in attendance, felt the positive energy from the group and the potential to influence change. She commented ‘LIFT Ireland has a goal of reaching 10% of the Irish population by 2028. We are delighted to have an amazing group of young leaders helping to shape LIFT’s Youth Strategy and ensuring that the youth of Ireland will have a voice and be in a position to lead positive change in the country. I am extremely excited to see what our Youth Board Support Group can do and the change they can bring.’

First LIFT Youth Board Support Group - From L to R: Steve McCarron, Kanaar Bell, Elizabeth Zion, Eva Kennedy, Hannah Dormer, Joanne Hession and Peter Ryan (inset)

What We Do

Driving positive leadership change in Ireland through our facilitator and partner network

Values

LIFT’s leadership learning process is based on eight key leadership values; Listening, Positive Attitude, Respect, Competence, Dedication & Determination, Empathy & Understanding, Accountability, and Honesty & Integrity.

Influence

LIFT Ireland believes that the best way to influence positive change in our country is to re-examine the way in which we view and enact leadership in our schools, communities, at home, and in our businesses.

Learning

Central to LIFT’s learning process are the leadership circles or roundtables. During these sessions, participants are given space to reflect on the eight leadership values using a well-established 5-step-method.

Network

To reach its overall goal of reaching 10% of the island’s population, LIFT relies on its network of facilitators and partners, who make a commitment to living, growing, building or hosting LIFT’s activities.

Become a partner

Chupi Sweetman, Chupi

"There is a tremendous opportunity to build a better, brighter and kinder future, not an old Ireland built on prejudice but a new Ireland built on strength. We are delighted to be a Founding Partner of Lift Ireland"

Chupi Sweetnam, Founder, Chupi

Sonya Lennon, Dress For Success Dublin

"Dress for Success is an organisation that empowers women to succeed in sustainable careers. We understand that LIFT is a vital piece of the puzzle. Fostering good values in our society now and for the future will make Ireland a better place to live and work"

Sonya Lennon, Founder, Dress For Success Dublin

Pete Smyth, Broadlake

"The LIFT team have a vision to bring out the leadership potential in all Irish people. In Broadlake we see first hand the potential of Irish leaders globally when they have the right supports. The vision of Ireland being famous for it leaders is exciting and achievable. That’s why we are helping LIFT."

Pete Smyth, Chief Executive Officer, Broadlake

Catherine Moroney, AIB

"LIFT is an accessible initiative for everyone from business to education and sports and it is inter generational. LIFT's core purpose is to facilitate conversations that encourage and foster core values that can help shape Ireland's sustainable future. All decisions are made through the filter of our Values and LIFT initiative will collectively raise our awareness of those filters for sustainable decision making."

Catherine Moroney, Head of Business Banking, AIB

GET INVOLVED

Whether you are in a company, a community group, or simply an individual who believes in the power to influence change, we’d love to hear from you. Find out how you can get involved below.

GET INVOLVED NOW