Youth WoRK SERVICE N E WS
Autumn
'10
Youth unemployment in 2010
Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion
When you stop to consider that unemployment rates
employment prospects. The most notable of these is
the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social
amongst young people across Europe are twice as Exclusion 2010 which aims to give a voice to people
high as the rate for the general adult population, it who are affected by these issues. Other initiatives,
is clear that the current economic crisis is having a such as SALTO Inclusion’s Unemployment Strategy,
particularly negative effect on young people. Sadly, focus specifically on helping young people to manage
it is young people with fewer opportunities, e.g. their way through these difficult times (see useful
immigrant workers and low-skilled workers, who are links section).
the first to feel the effects of the downturn. Across The Youth in Action Programme provides
the EU, 26% of unemployed young people aged 15- opportunities for young people of all abilities to
24 and 35% of those aged 25-29 are long-term (more participate in projects that will develop their skills
than one year) unemployed and therefore at an even and help them secure and maintain employment.
greater risk of social exclusion. This edition of our newsletter highlights some recent
Young people need every assistance to deal with Youth in Action projects that focus on addressing
these very challenging times. There are a number of youth unemployment, and combating poverty and
initiatives taking place in 2010 to engage with young social exclusion. Also featured is a report on a youth
people, and to see what help they need to gain the seminar which was held in Dublin as part of the EU’s
necessary skills and information to improve their structured dialogue process. The seminar consulted
with young people and providers of youth information
on the issue of youth unemployment.
ter
Building a Bet We hope you enjoy the read!
Society: the Travelling Community, New Age Travellers and the
ahon
Youthreach M Gay and Lesbian Community.
The young people themselves recognised the YiA
In March 2010, eight young people from Youthreach Programme as a positive step in their development.
Mahon, Co. Cork, hosted a Youth in Action (YiA) The experience, they said, has made them more aware
Exchange Programme for a group of young people of their place in Europe. They learned many skills and
from the South Eastern Education and Library each received a Youthpass Certificate which they can
Board (SEELB) in Northern Ireland. The theme of add to their CVs as concrete recognition of these skills
the exchange was Building a Better Society which —see www.youthpass.eu .
was explored through outdoor activities and group The experience of living together for a week and
work. The programme promoted tolerance among working as a team was a revelation for some. The
the participants and their wider communities. The group gained a sense of their own potential and a
group explored the ‘myths and facts about issues greater understanding of their role in society and the
facing young people’, European Citizenship and rights and responsibilities they have as young adults.
Active Citizenship. The Mahon group was composed They feel empowered to combat exclusion through
of young people from diverse backgrounds including new experiences and the skills they have learned.
www.leargas.ie
Youth WoRK SERVICE NEWS
s
f the Orphan
The Voyage o
eatre
kY outh Th
Limeric
The Voyage of the Orphans Youth Initiative project in 2009 aimed to engage
the young people of the Co. Limerick Youth Theatre (Co. LYT) with the constant
and unchanging themes of migration, human rights abuses, conflict, poverty,
famine and racism. The Co. LYT made a short film and devised a three-act
play depicting the historical story of the Irish famine orphans transported to
Australia in 1849, and made explicit links to the current plight of contemporary
migrants and separated children.
By making direct links between the situations faced by the characters in the play with contemporary
problems faced by migrants, the project hoped to engage the young people with these themes in the
world they live in. They researched how the Australian media portrayed the Irish Famine Orphans and
compared this to media reports on migrants in modern-day Irish newspapers, finding parallels in racist
and abusive language and scaremongering. They studied the often harrowing stories of young emigrants
to Ireland using the book All I have to Say produced by The Ombudsman for Children’s Office, creating
awareness of the injustices that have forced these children to leave their families and homes. The project
also looked at the historical situation which forced the Irish to emigrate in such huge numbers in the
1840s−the impact of colonialism, human rights abuses, poverty and the famine−and compared these t o
the causes of migration on a contemporary global level. The young participants in the
project learned important, transferable skills during this process: how
to research on the internet, use library archives, question information
sources, think critically, express and debate their views. From the outset
the youth leaders encouraged ownership of the project by the young
participants by ensuring their involvement in all aspects of the project:
research, decision-making, logistics, tasks, publicity and evaluation.
The young people in Co. LYT have great pride in their project. They feel that
they have created something meaningful and are empowered by what their
hard work has achieved. The project made a difference to the participants on
a personal level and has enabled them to develop greater confidence in their
abilities and skills. On a wider level they feel that they have communicated an
important message about migration and human rights to their peers and the
larger community. And all this while they were having fun!
For more information about the project contact Limerick County Arts office for a
copy of the DVD.
“This project… is so much more than just devising our own play and making improvisations on the
famine. We have looked at all the topics spanning from one subject and put it into modern examples
– from what it means to be Irish, to Traveller culture, racism hundreds of years ago and has it really
changed in today’s society? We looked at today’s bias on so many different levels. We’ve come to realise
how influenced we are by the media and by word of mouth but have no experience ourselves to justify our
actions. Until you take the time to walk around in someone’s shoes, you really have NO idea!”
Lucy James, 17
AutuMN '10
Where to Now? Eurodesk Ireland Conference 2010
On 22 June 2010 Eurodesk Ireland, in cooperation out of five young people is unemployed. There is
with its local relays (Youth Information Centres), a clear correlation between the education level
organised a one-day conference in the National attained and employment. Providers of information
College of Ireland, Dublin, entitled Where to Now? have a key role to play to address the crisis. The
Empowering young people through information. 150 people who attended heard that intermediaries
The conference was part of the EU’s structured who provide information to young people can bring
dialogue process of consultation in which young possibilities for learning
people across Europe and those who work with that can indirectly lead
them are asked to identify the challenges they face to employment for young
in relation to youth employment. The consultation is people, or to migration
particularly focused on how to improve information, for work. Alternatively, it
guidance and support for young people, in order to can simply provide young
help them access the labour market. people with the skills to
survive the experience
The conference encouraged organisations working of unemployment.
with young people—Youth Information Centres,
During the day,
youth organisations, youth cafes, libraries etc.—to
use European information provided by Eurodesk responses from Irish
to help disadvantaged young people to enhance young people on
their chances of becoming employable. The main unemployment,
speakers were Mary Cunningham, NYCI; Maurice migration and new media, were
Devlin, NUI Maynooth; and Anja Ruhland from thepresented, and discussions
Eurodesk Office in Brussels. The morning debatetook place around young people’s rights to
was moderated by Michael McLoughlin of Youth information and needs to be informed. We heard
that the main providers of youth information—
Work Ireland and in the afternoon, participants were
Youthwork Ireland, CYC, Foroige and YMCA—plan
able to take part in their choice of workshop around
Youth Information issues. to work closely together to transform the way that
youth information is delivered in Ireland so that
The conference was told that currently, youth young people, especially the disadvantaged, can
unemployment is a ‘tsunami’. Across Europe one access information that is relevant to their needs.
Dignity and Belonging through the Arts
The DABTTA (Dignity and Belonging Through The of their applications to remain in Ireland
Arts) Youth Initiative project involved young people The project involved creating a drama that toured
resident in a Direct Provision Centre for asylum to three venues in Ireland. It culminated with
seekers. The centre is in a geographically remote a performance in Castlebar GMIT, during its
area in Donegal, with little access to training, intercultural week. The participants had the
education, or leisure activities. The project aimed to opportunity to overcome language and cultural
empower young people, marginalised from society barriers which can impede active citizenship, social
by circumstances and residential status, through inclusion, and for those granted Leave to Remain
participation in an intercultural project promoting in Ireland, access to higher education, training and
equality, inclusion, and integration. The project also employment.
set out to give the participants a chance to integrate
and interact with their peers and the host community The participants in the core youth group, and the
in a more equal manner, and develop the necessary wider project, have built up new relationships, and
skills to present their status in the community in opportunities, including setting up a permanent
a positive way i.e. as young, active citizens with drama group in the Centre, and maintaining links
something to give to society. It endeavoured to with the wide variety of people, organisations and
help the young people break down the negative groups that they met through the project.
stereotypes of Asylum Seekers and to build life
skills that will stay with them whatever the outcome
Youth WoRK SERVICE NEWS
European Year of Volunteering 2011
Though activities for the European Year 2010 are continuing, preparations are already underway for the
European Year of Volunteering (EYV) in 2011. There is a recognition of the value of volunteering to communities
all over Europe and a willingness to support and promote even greater numbers of people to participate in
voluntary activities. The goals for the year are to:
• work towards an enabling and facilitating environment for volunteering in Ireland and the EU
• empower volunteer organisations and improve the quality of volunteering
• reward and recognise volunteering activities
• raise awareness on the value and importance of volunteering.
Volunteering Ireland, the coordinating body for EYV 2011 in Ireland, plans to provide learning opportunities
to the volunteering community in order to foster investment and an increased sense of community belonging.
More information about EYV 2011 will be made available closer to the start of the year.
training Events in 2010
Event Details Description Apply by Contact Person
YiA Regional 15 September, Overview of Youth in Action Carlos Barcelo
03 September
Information Day Portlaoise Programme. cbarcelo@leargas.ie
Youthpass for 21 September, How to support a core group to gain a Patricia Dalton
17 September
Youth Initiatives Dublin Youthpass Certificate. pdalton@leargas.ie
Helping to develop partnerships
Patricia Dalton
on a national level, this training
Youth Democracy 23-24 September, pdalton@leargas.ie or
is a forerunner to an International 16 September
Training Dublin Emma Grainger
Training Course taking place in
egrainger@leargas.ie
Lithuania in October.
Patricia Dalton
29-31 October, To support youth leaders and young
Youth Initiatives pdalton@leargas.ie or
Swords, people to develop and manage Youth 01 October
Workshop Emma Grainger
Co. Dublin Initiative projects.
egrainger@leargas.ie
SOHO Training
To assist mentors and supervisors in
for European 01-05 December,
EVS organisations to develop their 21 September Click here to apply online
Voluntary Service Slovakia
project capacity.
Organisations
Appetiser: an Giving a strong, positive first
introduction to 06-10 December, experience of international youth Click here to apply online
26 September
international Turkey projects to motivate participants to
youth work use the Youth in Action Programme.
useful Links and Resources
European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion: www.2010againstpoverty.eu and www.welfare.ie > EU2010
European Year of Volunteering: www.eyv2011.eu and www.volunteeringireland.ie
Working on Work is a booklet from SALTO addressing youth unemployment:
www.salto-youth.net > Inclusion > Inclusion Publications > Inclusion for All Youth Work Booklets
SALTO Unemployment Strategy: www.salto-youth.net/InclusionUnemploymentStrategy
Contact us
'10 For more information see our website www.leargas.ie/youthinaction or contact a member of
the Léargas team at youth@leargas.ie or 01 887 1208 / 887 1235.