More than 250 teenagers from the US, UK, Nigeria, Korea, Ireland and India will gather in Dublin this week as part of an international youth leadership conference.
The Albert Schweitzer Leadership for Life conference aims to provide young people with the confidence to take responsibility to become effective leaders in government, health, business and technology.
The teenagers will be taking part in workshops on team building, critical thinking and communication skills over the course of the week.
Anthony McKenzie (15) from the Bronx in New York is one of many participants who wants to improve his skills to help others.
“I’m the president of my grade at school, which involves planning socials, fundraisers, helping students and helping the community," he said, adding that he would like to develop his communication and leadership skills in order to reach out to people outside his school.
Assistant CEO of Foróige John Cahill said the conference, which was developed by Foróige in partnership with the Irish Chamber of Commerce, USA (ICCUSA) was designed to promote skills such as good communication, goal-setting and teamwork.
“By mentoring and inspiring the next generation of leaders we are fostering the ideas of tomorrow and that gives hope to us all in the challenges that lie ahead”.
Sixteen-year-old Jenika Farrell from New York hopes the skills she will learn will help her to change the way people think about the world.
She said she hoped to swap “negative views of the world for more positive ones” starting with the way people view her home country. “I think people have a bad perception of America and I want to change that”.
Others said they hoped the conference would help their personal development. Justin Dunne (16) from Co Cavan, a member of the Ballinagh Foróige club, said he hoped the conference would improve his confidence.