13 young apprentices from Derry/Londonderry and Donegal today celebrated their successful completion of the YouthAction NI Community Youth Leadership Apprenticeship Project.

The Project was a youth work apprenticeship initiative which employed 43 young apprentices in Greater Belfast; the North West, Derry/Londonderry and Donegal; and Fermanagh and Monaghan. It promoted empowerment, active citizenship, learning and community leadership among young people from Nationalist and Unionist communities.

Providing valuable work experience, the Community Leadership Apprenticeship Project, helped young people gain skills and qualifications to enhance their future job prospects in youth work and the growing performing arts industry. The apprentices gain an NVQ level 3 in youth work: training in ICT; first aid; child protection; performing arts facilitation; and employability skills.

Speaking on behalf of the Project’s primary funder, Dr Adrian Johnston Board Member of the International Fund for Ireland, said: "As we celebrate the graduation of 13 apprentices from Derry/Londonderry and Donegal we are also celebrating the successful outcomes of the entire Community Leadership Apprenticeship Project with this final graduation ceremony. Projects such as these that promote peace and reconciliation by empowering young people to reach out to one another and build a shared future are vital.

“Not only do these projects teach young people to work together, they also have provided support to help them complete their essential skills such as GCSE English and Maths which will help them secure better jobs and ultimately contribute more to a society coming out of conflict.

“The International Fund for Ireland is delighted to be able to see the positive outcomes of our funding in the successes of the young people who have participated and who are graduating today.”

June Trimble MBE, Director of YouthAction Northern Ireland, said “Today is a day of celebration for these young people. The young leaders completing their apprenticeship have new skills, qualifications, valuable work experience and aspirations to be civic leaders and contribute positively to society.

“One of the main outputs to this project has been peace building and encouraging dialogue between young people with different history and backgrounds. We held a very successful ‘Let’s Talk’ event before Christmas which involved a lively debate with young people and political representatives including those from unionist and nationalist traditions.”

Support for The Community Leadership Apprenticeship Project by the International Fund for Ireland triggered additional funding from the Department of Education, the Department for Employment and Learning, the Rank foundation, the Western Education and Library Board (WELB) and the Australia Ireland Fund.

A range of youth work experiences have been provided to the apprentices in the North West by:

• The Inclusion Unit,  WELB Youth Service
• The Whistle Project, Gobnascale
• The Waterside Theatre
• The Young Fathers Project
• Safe & Sound, YouthAction N.I.
• St Columbs Park House
• Feeny Youth & Community Association
• Newbuildings Youth Club
• Lettershandoney District & Development Group
• Tullyally District & Development Group
• The YARD, Falcharragh, Co Donegal
• Lifford & Clonleig, County Donegal
• Plant Youth, Ballybofey,County Donegal
• Moville Family Resource Centre, County Donegal
• Irish Street Youth & Community Association
• YMCA
• Shantallow Youth Club

We would also like to acknowledge the Donegal Youth Service for the support they offered the Project and the opportunities they helped to provide for the young community leaders based in County Donegal

Colleen O’Neill one of the young community leaders said: “The Project has helped me to develop my confidence in delivering youth work programmes, I learned so much and now feel more able to support young people in my community. I also had great fun doing it and now have an interview for a degree in community youth work at the University of Ulster at Magee, for me the entire experience has been a great success.”

                                                                                                       Click here to download press release