The Horizons Expo is a new initiative, aimed at showcasing to young people in Ireland the wide range of opportunities for involvement in civil society. At Expo events, twenty leading not-for-profit organisations, including Concern Worldwide, Special Olympics Ireland, Amnesty International, Barnardo's, Suas Educational Development and the Washington-Ireland Program have stands. The audience is usually primarily third-level students, who can discuss with exhibitors opportunities ranging from volunteering to full exchanges and career prospects.

What are its objectives?

The objective of the Expo is to promote the spirit of volunteerism, public service and active citizenship through connecting leading civil society organisations with third level students.

Participation in civil society, as epitomised by the World Special Olympics, held in Ireland in 2003, is the ideal way of making a difference in Irish society. This wealth of citizenship is a huge untapped resource on the island of Ireland, particularly among young people.

The Expo will serve as a meeting place for interested young people and the participating organisations- international NGOs, national charities and local action groups.

Who organises Expo events?

This unique sereis of events is being co-ordinated by the Washington-Ireland Program Alumni Network. The Washington-Ireland Program (WIP) is a personal and professional training program taking third level students from the island of Ireland to Washington DC for an internship, public service and leadership training. Our Alumni Network is active in promoting public service and youth leadership, as seen in such schemes as the Youth Empowerment Scheme in Belfast and the 2004 conference on post-conflict society.

For more information on the Horizons Expo that took place in Trinity College Dublin in 2005 and on planned future expos, please check out their website.

Visit the Horizons Expo website