Written by Thorfinn Moffat

I have witnessed in the space of a decade the explosion of interest in environmental issues. In no group of people is this interest stronger than in young people. Behind the backdrop of school walkouts becoming a regular feature in countries worldwide and young climate activist Greta Thunberg named ‘Times Person of the Year’, it seems that the environment is the defining political issue of this generation.

Unsurprisingly, Cardiff Youth Council has recently chosen the environment as one of its priority areas and with funding from Erasmus+ we have hosted our first out of two environmental residentials. We are convening youth councils across Wales in one place to consult young people on problems which are important to them and their local areas.

Our vision is to launch a programme to build strong relationships with other youth councils so that we can form a network of young people nation-wide devoted to tackling environmental issues. As a part of this programme we will be asking youth council’s to launch their own projects with an environmental focus within their local communities. We will also be developing branding so that we can demonstrate that young people across Wales are working under a common purpose.

This is a unique opportunity for Cardiff Youth Council to collaborate with other youth councils to tackle an issue which is at the centre of our agenda. To make our vision a reality, we will need support over the next couple of months so if you would like to support us in some way or want to get involved, please contact a member of the active involvement team.

      

Diweddariad Erasmus

Ysgrifennydd gan Thorfinn Moffat

Rwyf wedi gweld cynnydd enfawr yn y diddordeb sydd gan bobl mewn materion amgylcheddol dros y degawd diwethaf. Ni fu’r diddordeb yn amlycach mewn unrhyw grŵp nag ymhlith pobl ifanc. Rhwng protestiadau ysgol yn dod yn rhywbeth cyffredin mewn ysgolion ledled y byd a’r actifydd hinsawdd Greta Thunberg yn cael ei henwi’n ‘Person y Flwyddyn Time’, ymddengys taw’r amgylchedd y mater gwleidyddol diffiniol y genhedlaeth hon. 

Nid yw’n syndod bod Cyngor Ieuenctid Caerdydd yn ddiweddar wedi dewis yr amgylchedd yn un o’i flaenoriaethau, a gydag arian gan Erasmus+ rydym wedi cynnal y gyntaf o’n dwy breswylfa amgylcheddol. Rydym yn ymgynnull cynghorau ieuenctid ledled Cymru mewn un lle i ymgynghori â phobl ifanc ar broblemau sy’n bwysig iddynt a’uhardaloedd lleol.

Ein gweledigaeth yw lansio rhaglen i feithrin perthnasau cryf â chynghorau ieuenctid eraill fel y gallwn ffurfio rhwydwaith o bobl ifanc ledled y genedl sy’n ymrwymedig i fynd i’r afael â materiono amgylcheddol. Fel rhan o’r rhaglen hon byddwn yn gofyn i gynghorau ieuenctid lansio’u projectau eu hunain gyda ffocws amgylcheddol ar eu cymunedau lleol. Byddwn hefyd yn datblygu brandio fel y gallwn ddangos bod pobl ifanc ledled Cymru’n gweithio at ddiben cyffredin.

Mae hwn yn gyfle unigryw i Gyngor Ieuenctid Caerdydd gydweithredu â chynghorau ieuenctid eraill i fynd i’r afael â mater sydd wrth wraidd ein hagenda. I wireddu’r weledigaeth, bydd angen cymorth arnom dros y misoedd nesaf felly os hoffech ein cefnogi mewn rhyw ffordd neu yr hoffech gymryd rhan, cysylltwch ag aelod o’r tîm cynnwys actif.