2023 BELFAST
The inaugural ‘2048: The Future Starts Now’ event took place at the Senate Chamber in Stormont Parliament Buildings in Belfast on 9 December 2023.
‘2048: The Future Starts Now’ is an inspiring collaboration between 4Voices, SistersIN, Vocalis Public Speaking and McCANN VA, designed to empower teenage girls from all backgrounds across Northern Ireland. This unique initiative provides the girls with an opportunity for intensive public speaking training and the prestigious chance to deliver a 5-minute speech on their vision for the future of Northern Ireland, at the Senate Chamber in Stormont Parliament Buildings.
As we celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, the inaugural ‘2048: The Future Starts Now’ event aimed to encourage participants to contemplate the next 25 years and the positive impact they can bring to Northern Ireland.
Their phenomenal speeches were presented to a select audience of community and business leaders on 9 December 2023 in Stormont Parliament Buildings in Belfast. Following the speeches, the leaders had the opportunity to engage with each young speaker individually, fostering meaningful conversations about their aspirations and visions for the future of our society.
Visit our YouTube channel to watch the full event and all the individual speeches
In our podcast 4Voices co-founder Cormac Walsh talks to the vice chair of SistersIN Aisling Press, founder of Vocalis Public Speaking Sinéad Lunny and two of the incredible young female speakers, Hope Gordon and Anna Norris.
Two of the participants, Romy Maguire and Maka Chinanayi, speak on BBC Radio Ulster GMU (no longer available to listen)
Emily Scanlon, Maka Chinanayi and Grace Jackman speak to the Belfast Telegraph about participating in this exciting event
The Banbridge Chronicle highlights the speech of local participant Katie McMinn
Sinéad Lunny of Vocalis Public Speaking talks to The County Down Outlook