GoVirtual model capable of effecting positive changes in key aspects of young people’s lives

Foróige GoVirtual is part of Foróige’s digital youth work and focuses on engaging young people in immersive online spaces through virtual reality. It was reviewed by Dr. Eemer Eivers as part of the Rethink Ireland Scaling Education Award (2023 - 2025). The report titled 'Evaluation of Foróige GoVirtual' is available on Foróige's website (PDF).

Some of the key findings included:

• Clear evidence that the GoVirtual team had successfully developed a basic understanding of the appropriate use of VR in a sizeable proportion of Foróige staff.

• GoVirtual has greatly increased the number of Foróige staff capable of using VR as a youth work tool, the number of staff using it as part of their youth work toolkit has increased, and the number of young people engaging with Foróige in a VR environment has increased considerably

• Large majorities of all those involved (youth workers, young people, parents) feel that the GoVirtual model is capable of effecting positive changes in key aspects of young people’s lives. Also, there is a strong symmetry between the surveyed views of youth workers and young people, with high levels of agreement as to how VR can be of most benefit, and to whom it can be of most benefit.       

If any members wish to find out more, please contact adam.leech@foroige.ie

Foróige is a member of Eirmersive