Ms Emily Boyne:

I am sitting here as a product of youth work today. As Stephen did mention, I have been attending the Bosco since I was seven years of age but now I am lucky enough to say I am a part-time youth worker there. I am 24 now so technically I am still in the age bracket to be a young person. Somebody mentioned the open door policy earlier. When I was 21 I was in limbo. I did not know what to do. I was only 16 doing my leaving certificate which is very young. I went off and had a bit of fun and studied drama for a couple of years but then that got me to a stage where I was asking what am I supposed to do with my life now. I went in to Stephen at 21 years of age, I did not know where else to go. The first place I went to was walking through that door of the Bosco and I said to him, "I want to study youth work.". I even said it to Stephen on the way in that ten years ago nothing like this was on my agenda. Walking in here today, I never thought ten years ago I would be sitting here, even just listening to amazing workers talk about what they do.