A space van is due to rendezvous tonight (Friday) with young people in the Lewis village of Tong on an information gathering exercise.
But the close encounter is of the terrestrial and cyber-space kind as the space van is a mobile cyber-café operated by 'Young Scot', the national youth information agency.
The Space Van e-Roadshow is currently on tour throughout Scotland visiting schools and youth groups and running sessions on topics relevant to young people.
The roadshow allows young people to get involved in national and local debate and discussion and is intended to give young people an opportunity to make their views known to decision makers. The results of the discussions are fed into theUr'Say section of the Young Scot website.
Ahead of the space van’s ETA, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's Chairman of Education, Cllr Norman L Macdonald, commented: “New technology opens up a whole new way for people to access information and in return make their own views known. This 'e-democracy' is particularly useful for young people living in remoter parts of Scotland. It puts them on a level playing field with young people in the rest of the country.”
The Space Van is accessible to young people aged 12 and over. Its itinerary in the Western Isles is:
Friday, April 16th 8-10pm Tong Senior Youth Club
Saturday, April 17th 12-4pm Pointers Youth Café
Saturday, April 17th 7.30pm-10.30pm Tarbert Youth Café
Tuesday, April 20th 8-10.30pm Breasclete Senior Youth Club
Wednesday 21st 8-10pm Leverburgh Senior Youth Club
Thursday 22nd 7.30-9pm South End Youth Forum.
The van will also be visiting secondary schools throughout the Western Isles.
