This article is from page 28 of the 2008-09-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 28 JPG
THE ACHIEVEMENTS of young people who took up the challenge of getting an education will be cel- ebrated this week at a special awards ceremony in Spanish Point.
The Clare VEC Youthreach Awards night, which takes place every three years, will be held in the Armada Hotel on October 2 at 7pm and eve- ryone is invited.
A lucky thirteen sucessful students will be presented with their awards in areas ranging from Applied Leav- ing Certificate studies to Food and Nutrition, Interpersonal Skills and modules such as Maths and English.
The Youthreach Programme was set up in Ennistymon in 1990 in the Community centre and from there moved to a vacant office and work
space in a local factory, Data Display in 1992.
When the VTOS programme fin- ished in the old vocational school in Milltown Malbay in June 1996, the Youthreach programme moved from Ennistymon into the rent-free build- ing in Miltown Malbay.
The Ennistymon/Doolin/Lidoon- varna students were then transported by bus to the centre. Students also came from Miltown Malbay, Quilty and Mullagh.
And since then, dozens of young people who have either left school early or decided to pursue a differ- ent route than that of the standard secondary school education have availed of learning and training op- portunities with Youthreach.
‘As well as the academic subjects we offer vocational training a sup-
port through jobs skills training, work experience interview skills and personal development,’ said co-ord1- nator, Josephine Dempsey.
Young people usually come to Youthreach from school but some have ventured out into the world of work and decided to return to im- prove their abilities and qualifica- tions and in turn, their job opportu- nities.
As well as being helped to find their niche by the scheme’s two career guidance teachers, the young peo- ple are catered for in small classes, working at their own level.
“We have very good working rela- tionships with employers and schools in the area, so we can also give sup- port once they have completed their studies and training and we track what is happening with the students
when they leave,” said Josephine.
A glance at the results of all that hard work for this year’s Youthreach graduates shows that the plan works. All have either found employment or are continuing their studies, with one student gone on to college.
“We usually have a 100 per cent take-up with people either finding employment or going on to further education,” said Josephine.
The awards night will be for those students who completed their sub- jects in 2007 and 2008.
Anyone who would like further information about the opportunities available with Youthreach or any of the VEC courses can get details in the Adult Education handbook from libraries or post offices or by email from yrmilltownmalbay@eircom. ate