Gaisce or ‘great achievement’ is a self-development programme for young people between the ages of 15-25 and has been in existence since 1985. The Awards initially flourished under the patronage of former President Patrick. J Hillery and to date and have been carried by incoming President’s. To date over 300,000 young people have participated in the Gaisce programme. At Gaisce our main aim is to ensure we have a programme which fits the needs of every young person who wishes to participate in the Gaisce programme and to give each participant the best possible opportunity to do so. We believe in the ability and resilience of young people and through the Gaisce programme we want them to nurture that ability and to realise their full potential.
Gaisce is driven and motivated to follow and adhere to core values set out by its staff and council members. We are committed to ensuring these core values are embedded across all areas of our work, and in our practice and processes.
Gaisce is focused on, and driven by, the following core values:
Empowerment
Making a difference, effecting change and enabling young people to shape their own path to self-discovery.
Inclusion & Equality
Every person has the opportunity to grow their potential through equality of access, participation and outcomes.
Respect
Valuing people equally, recognising diversity, and ensuring everyone is treated with dignity.
Excellence
Making an impact through pursuing the highest standards, operating with integrity and in a transparent manner.
Gaisce is committed to a planned and systematic approach to living our core values. This will be achieved by applying our values to the various operations and engagements of our programme, both within the organisation and with outside stakeholders and partners.