Paisley junior launches enhanced online initiative for Northern Ireland's youth

One of the most advanced online participation tools enabling young people across Northern Ireland to engage with civic life was launched today by Junior Minister Ian Paisley jnr.

Speaking at the launch of the ‘Where is My Public Servant’ (WIMPS) stage three initiative at Queen’s University Belfast, the Minister praised the scheme.

“This project is an excellent example in using the latest developments in internet based technologies to enhance the participation of young people in the civic life of their communities, in Northern Ireland and around the world.”

Mr Paisley continued: “Users across Northern Ireland can use this inventive online facility to contact their elected representatives, to promote the work they are doing on issues relevant to their local communities and to enable interviews with elected representatives and others about their roles, interests and key topics.

“It also offers new and exciting opportunities in terms of creating a responsive vehicle for the civic engagement of all our young people.”

The new WIMPS Project has built upon the successes of its predecessor site, specifically by pushing the technology on the site to include video streaming, downloadable video and audio resources such as pod-casts.

The site, which can be viewed at http://www.wimps.org.uk, is now one of the most advanced participative tools for young people currently available on the web.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The WIMPS Project was initiated in 2004 as an initiative in creating real relationships between young people in Northern Ireland and public representatives and politicians.

The project is run in Northern Ireland by Public Achievement, a youth organisation initiated in the USA but with a number of branches worldwide operating independently of each other.

In July 2006, the Delivery and Innovation Division of the Department of Finance and Personnel, awarded funding to the Youth eParticipation Project in order to help develop Public Achievement’s on-line eParticipation tool WIMPS (Where Is My Public Servant?) designed “to transform the project into a more efficacious vehicle for the views and interests of young people and as a tool for their self-advocacy and civic engagement.”

The project uses the latest developments in internet based technologies to develop, encourage and improve the participation of young people in the civic life of their communities, in Northern Ireland and the world.

The project also provides life-enhancing and life-changing skills for young people from all backgrounds and learning dispositions enabling them to fulfil their potential beyond what they previously thought possible.

For further information on the WIMPS Project, please contact:-

Mr Paul Smyth,

Public Achievement, Wellington Park, Belfast

Tel: 02890 666 948 email: paul@publicachievement.com

Or

Dr Mandy McClenaghan,

DFP Delivery & Innovation Division, Clare House, Belfast

Tel: 02890 816 540 email: mandy.mcclenaghan@dfpni.gov.uk

Media enquires to DFP press office on 028 90 527644.

Out of hours please contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 07699 715440 and your call will be returned.