Young people from County Fermanagh have celebrated reaching personal and professional milestones, thanks to the support of a project that has been working in the local area for two years.
Fermanagh Positive Youth Outlooks, which is associated with well-known community group
Fermanagh Sports and Cultural Awareness Association (FSCAA) is supported under the International Fund for Ireland’s (IFI) Personal Youth Development Programme (PYDP).
Many of the young people involved with the project come from a range of challenging backgrounds including paramilitary recruitment, anti-social activity, dealings with the criminal justice system, substance abuse, poor mental health, and a mistrust of statutory institutions.
The Project supports young people on a range of issues helping them develop life skills that foster good relations, build confidence and resilience, which ultimately makes them more employable.
The celebration event, held at local Enniskillen eatery Horseshoe and Saddlers recognised the accredited qualifications achieved over the last two-year period. Participants also shared how they have overcome challenges to transform their own lives since joining the project.
Peter Osborne, IFI Board Member said; “The IFI’s PYDP Programme is unlike any other model as it is tailored to the needs of the individual. This support enables every young person to change the direction of their lives and make a positive contribution to their local communities.
“As we approach the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, it is important that we now look ahead to the future. Young people will be an integral part of the conversation in terms of what comes next in peace and reconciliation. I believe that projects such as Fermanagh Positive Youth Outlooks are changing lives and producing leaders, who in turn will help create a shared future for all.”
The Project has been funded by the IFI since April 2021 delivering 60 accredited qualifications including Essential Skills, Peace and Reconciliation, Personal Development, First Aid, Youth Leadership, Health, and Safety. Seventeen young people have also secured employment through the support of the project and team.
John Quinn Programme, Fermanagh Positive Youth Outlooks Co-ordinator adds;” We are delighted representatives from various organisations, including the International Fund for Ireland and Rural Action came to celebrate the achievements of our young people.
“Having collaborated with them for almost two years, it is a credit to every one of them that they are leaving with an array of qualifications that will hopefully stand with them for their futures.
“Participants embraced all the opportunities that were available to them through the Personal Youth Development Programme. It has been a personal journey with each young person, all faced with individual challenges, and we have witnessed a massive improvement in their confidence and self-esteem. Many of our young people have secured employment and others are completing training courses as a result of their involvement in this programme.”
William’s Case Study
“I wasn’t going down the right path at the start so I’m very grateful for all the support.”
‘William’ is a 19-year-old male who grew up in a mixed religion household in a small town in Fermanagh. At a young age Williams parents separated, and his father went to prison. On his father’s release, William then spent his time between two homes. William struggled through primary school and was expelled from two secondary schools. This led William to attending an alternative education setting where he left with no qualifications. William started to misuse drugs from the age of 14, starting with Cannabis and eventually moving on to harder drugs. This was his way of dealing with an unstable environment. Whilst under the influence William engaged in risk taking behaviours and often ended up in trouble with the police.
William joined the Fermanagh Positive Youth Outlooks programme when staff reached out to him. At first, he was a little apprehensive as it was a group of people he did not know, but it took no time for William to get comfortable and feel part of the group. William comes across as a confident young man with lots to say but when on a 1:1 basis with staff it soon became clear this was a front to cover up how he was really feeling. Throughout the programme William has grown in confidence and realised he wants a better life for himself. Because of this his drug use has reduced substantially and has no involvement with the criminal justice system.
William attended the programme every week and pushed himself to go out of his comfort zone with the support from staff. He leaves the programme with several level 1 qualifications including Get Ready for Work, Youth Leadership and First Aid. William worked hard with staff to complete a CV for job searching and was successful in gaining employment in a local food factory. William has always been thankful to the programme for the support and opportunities he never would have availed of.
