A sense of belonging for Pride’s youth members
Waterford’s Pride celebrations are unique in that the festival contains its own youth-oriented committee who organise all their own events and gatherings.
The committee of 15-to-17-year-olds have been hard at work once again this year, organising an abundance of youth led festivities for the festival weekend.
The Pride of the Déise Youth Committee started in 2019, and were instantly met with a major obstacle, as the Covid-19 pandemic threatened to spoil their events.
The committee persisted and hosted a range of online events for the community in 2020 and 2021.
In the years since, the youth-led events of Pride have grown and grown, along with the Youth Committee itself.
This year, the group has been meeting regularly during their ChillOUT sessions in the Manor Street Youth and Community Centre.
Together, they have created a safe, supportive community where LGBT young people are accepted and appreciated for who they are and encouraged to take Pride in themselves.
They have found a home at the Manor Street Youth and Community Centre, which provides them with a safe space to explore their identity, connect with others and engage in meaningful conversations and developmental activities.
Incorporating social education, personal development, leadership and teamwork skills into group work at Manor Street, the space also equips them with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in all areas of their lives.
During their meetings, the group openly discuss their experiences, challenges and triumphs in a supportive environment that can help them navigate any challenges they face and develop confidence in themselves.
In the build up to this year’s Pride of the Déise festivities, we sat down with the Pride Youth Committee at their home on Manor Street to discuss Pride and what it means to Waterford’s young people.
The team said that preparations this year have gone extremely well and have been both productive and enjoyable.
Brooke said: “It’s been so much fun for us all. We all communicate with each other so well and we work together as a team to organise everything.
“We have so many different things going on during the festival this year but the main thing is that people enjoy it and have fun."
Speaking on one of the highlights of the annual celebrations, Brooke said the parade is something the entire group are looking forward to.
“The parade lets people come and experience a real togetherness, where they can meet people and make friends and we encourage them to join ChillOUT at the Manor too because we have a really strong community there," said Brooke.
“I think Pride and ChillOUT are a really good start for anyone who might be hesitant or nervous to join a group or meet new people. We have a really supportive community down here that can really help people discover themselves.”
Caitlyn added: “I’m excited to see the work that everyone has put into the weekend, because we’ve all worked so hard over the past few months and have had so much fun in the process.”
Meanwhile, Lilly said that since joining Pride, her life has changed.
“Last year I was watching Pride, I wasn’t an organiser, so coming into the committee this year I’ve loved the sense of community and camaraderie amongst everyone.
“I can’t wait to see how we all share that sense of community with everyone during the Pride festival.
“It’s great to know that there are spaces available here in the Waterford community where people can go and be fully accepted, and it is so nice to see such a big community who show up to Pride every year to show support.”
Myles added: “It’s been so fun organising Pride and I think it will feel really accomplishing seeing it all come together.
“When I first joined the committee here, I remember being really excited about meeting a bunch of really cool people and making new friends. I was excited to be in a space with people just like me.
“I would say I have definitely changed a lot since getting involved in Pride and I’ve made so many new friends along the way.”
Zero said: “I’ve been to Pride for the past four years, but I’ve never actually been in the committee until this year. It’s been so fun to see how it gets organised and how it all comes together.
“My first being to Pride was very positive, I made so many friends, and I felt a sense of community. But most importantly, I’ve felt like I have found a place where I belong.”
