In a ceremony at Croke Park in Dublin yesterday, the President, Mrs McAleese, formally launched the Irish Association of Young People in Care (IAYPIC).
The association has been in existence for the past three years, and aims to give a voice to all 4,510 young people in care in Ireland. Some 200 young people at the launch yesterday represented all children and teenagers in care.
The IAYPIC will promote those young people's rights, an provide information, advice and support to them. Young people with care experience are involved in the organisation's management team and will also be employed on its staff.
Young people in residential homes or foster care in Ireland often don't have much contact with their families.
Such young people can live in a limbo of "not knowing" where they are going to be living, who'll be looking after them, when they'll see their family, or where they'll be spending Christmas.
19-year-old "Jennifer" has spent all her teenage years in care. Speaking of her experience of feeling isolated and unsupported, she said, "staff should be prepared to work with children and help them get over some of the things that have happened to them. They don't do this." Parents too, she said, don't explain to their children why they are going into care.
Ms Catherine Carty of IAYPIC said: "More than anything, we want every child and young person in care to know this association is completely there for them."
