Issue 13: October 2011

In this Edition of Echo you can read all about Volunteering opportunities and especially the European Voluntary Service, hear what has been going on over the last few months and look ahead to all that is coming up as we look forward to an exciting fun filled Winter season. Enjoy!

The YIC Team

Speak Up What’s Coming Up?News Articles on Volunteering YIC & Loft News

Letterkenny Youth Information Centre Newsletter

16-18 Port Road, Letterkenny

Tel 074-9129640

www.donegalyouthservice.ie/yic

FREE

EUROPEAN VOLUNTARY SERVICE Special Edition

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Did you know?

Virtual or Real - International Exchange: Italy 2011.A group of young people from the Letterkenny Youth Information Centre took part in a 7 day International exchange to Allessandria Italy in late June following on from previous exchanges in 2005, 2007 and 2009. Our hosts were the Youth Information Centre based in Allessandria. This years exchange was entitled “Virtual or Real” and was designed to tackle the issues of social networking sites and their increasing use by young people. The young people questioned the nature of their friendships online and produced a DVD together. The DVD was designed to be a call for more genuine forms of friendship cultivated in the real world. The young people on the exchange also created their own sound track for the DVD and designed a display for the Youth Information Centre in Allessandria. The group also paid a visit to the Appenine mountains where they visited an ecological reserve and paid respects at a World War 2 site. Other participating countries on the exchange were Poland Germany and Greece.

NEWS & VIEWS FROM THE YIC

DAYBREAKDaybreak, the only project of its kind in Donegal, was set up in direct response to the needs of 12-15 year old early school leavers, poor attendees and those experiencing difficulty in their current school setting across the county. We aim to support referred young people to remain in or return to full time education. Focusing on strengths, we enable participants to identify and achieve their personal and academic goals, both long and short term, and reach their full potential.Participants enter the programme through a system of referral and join the programme voluntarily. “My advice to anyone lucky (enough) or looking to attend Daybreak is to take this great opportunity as it will be a once in a lifetime experience and you will never regret it. Listen to the advice and you will be amazed at what you can achieve. If I can do it, anyone can as I am a totally different person to that person who walked into Daybreak that first day.” Derek, Sept 2011. We run a highly successful Outreach Service in conjunction with Stranorlar School Completion Programme in Planet Youth, Ballybofey on Fridays.The success of Daybreak depends on a team of skilled and committed volunteers who help to deliver one-to-one academic tuition in the areas of basic numeracy and literacy as well as the Junior Certificate curriculum and to assist with homework. The patience, good humour and diligence of our volunteers are invaluable assets to the programme. Daybreak is extremely grateful to all our volunteers, and it is always looking for new ones to provide an individually tailored service to its participants, especially in these days of funding cuts.

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Looking back at some highlights of the YIC Summer.

PARTY IN THE PARKWHATS BEEN HAPPENING

1 - The Italian Job Irish Style2 - Don’t Lean Back playing Party in the Park3 - Three beautiful entries in the fashion show 7 - Italian Exchange4 - Youth in Motion Photoshoot 8 - Fox n Crew5 - Joanna, Elisa and Sarah 9 - Band Night in the LOFT6 - Give us a kiss 10 -Aidan & Michael

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PARTY IN THE PARK

Letterkenny Youth Information Centre have been a host organisation for the European Volunteer Service since 2007, having had 7 different European volunteers work here for a period of 9 months. Here our current volunteers Sarah and Elisa tell us their own unique stories.

EUROPEAN VOLUNTARY SERVICE

My EVS ExperienceBy: Elisa Della Libera

It took me up to half an year to decide whether to do or not to do the EVS when I decided to do it.After 6 months here in Let-terkenny I can say that it was the best decision I have ever

made in my life. After this experience I will always be the same person I was before coming here but now I feel better and stronger. My indecisiveness was con-nected with my family and my boyfriend. It would have been my first time far from home for such a long time. When I arrived here, for the first few days I had a mix of emotions: happiness, sad-ness, anger, tiredness and energy. People in the Youth Information Centre helped me to get used to the job, the town and brought me to lot of places. They where very important for me, like a sec-ond family. Thanks to them I was content and I was feel-

ing safe. Day by day you start your new life and you meet a lot of people. My camera has always been with me because I did'n t want to miss any shots. People have said to me I made a different view of the town and I'm very happy about this. I'll really miss all the peo-ple I met here and I hope to come back once a year to visit friends and Donegal.

My EVS ExperienceBy: Sarah Borsato

When I sent my application forms for EVS I wasn’t expecting anything, I thought that there were so many people applying and also with more skills than me that I even couldn’t think to be chosen. I come from a country in which there are several issues that affects young people, and unemployment is one of the biggest, so after applying for several jobs, I decided that maybe some months abroad would have helped me to get new skills and maybe also to find “my place on the world”.Some people told me that there was no point in volunteering, they thought that there was no reason at all in working for free and that I should have looked for a job instead of having a nine-months “holiday” in a country where it is always raining.

When I left Italy for Ireland I was a bit worried about having problems with the language, not to get on well with people or to get bored in a town like Letterkenny, but as soon as I came I thought I wasn’t in Ireland, but in Wonderland: people were so friendly, nice and polite. The work environment is very good and I have no worries of always having to watch my back as I was used to in Italy in my previous workplace. At the beginning it wasn’t so easy, I must admit that, I missed my family and my closest Italian friends, but as the days passed it got better and better: I have found great people, some of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen in my life and, in one way, I have also started to like the rain. Doing the EVS is one of the best things I have ever done, and I would advice other people to do it because it makes you see things from a dif

ferent point of view. It’s a good way of enjoying your independence, to challenge and maybe also discover yourself. It is like a journey where you should be open to a new culture and some-times also to a new lifestyle (I think about those EVS volunteers I met at the pre-departure training in Italy, who went to Africa and helped to build villages), where you may also do things that you would never do at home like going out with your bosses for a pint, for example. I think that when I’ll be back in Italy in December, I will miss everything and everybody so much that I am planning to stay here for some more time!!

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PARTY IN THE PARKEUROPEAN VOLUNTARY SERVICE

What I’ve learned during my IRISH experience in Letterkenny:

Letterkenny is not a city, Letterkenny is a TOWN!!

If you are thinking about coming here to meet only English/Irish speaking people, this is not the right place for you.

The PUB is not only a place where to drink a lot of pints. You can hold conversartions about sport, weather, Don-egal, culture, meeting new people..

When you arrived here you might have been thinking that you knew English very well. Maybe you know English, but not the Irish accent. This will take you up to two months to get used to.

You don’t have to be famous to find your photograph in the newspapers.

If they invite you to the pub at 10 pm and it’s 9.45 pm you still have time to eat and get dressed. Don’t be in hurry.

If you are invited to a party, be sure you have eaten before. You will only find chips and drinks.

The first Irish words you will learn will be: slainte and failte (especially if you go to Tory Island and you meet the King of Tory as you get off the ferry) and you will always find somebody who wants to teach you Irish. Sometimes you don’t understand they are speaking Irish with you :)

If you want a quiet place to sleep, don’t look for it in Letterkenny centre. People go dancing and drinking on Mon-day, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and maybe Sunday.

Fast and Furious is not only a movie, it’s a reality!

WHAT IS EVS? EVS, which is administered by Léargas, funds volunteers from one European country to spend time - typically six to 12 months - working as a volunteer in a non-profit organisation in another country. Everyone benefits: the volunteer gains experience and skills and an insight into a different way of living, while the host organisation, and those it cares for, benefit from the energy and enthusiasm of the young person, while learning about another culture. Letterkenny Youth Information Centre is an accredited host and sending organisation for the

European Voluntary Service. If you’re interested and would like to find out more about EVS or would like to participate in the programme by volunteering abroad then come in and talk to a member of staff now. The opportunities are endless; the choice is yours!

SOME USEFUL LINKSwww.youthnetworks.euwww.eurodesk.ie

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Party in the Park 2011 !

August 6th saw the Donegal Youth Service take over the Letterken-ny Town Park with the annual Party in the Park. It was a special celebra-tion this year with the 30th anniversary of the Donegal Youth Service to get the festivities go-ing. Young bands from all over Donegal and even as far as Monaghan came to play. Bands such as the Jamaican Vampires, Tasty, the Mat-thew Trainor Experience and Red Light Inferno played up a storm. The weather held out well for most of the day. What-

ever showers we did get didn’t seem to bother the crowds of people. Hun-dreds of young people came to the park and re-ally enjoyed themselves. Domino’s Pizza were wel-come back with plenty of free pizza for every-one. There were plenty of new additions to the event this year. One of these was the fashion show which was expertly organised by Sabrina Kelly, Claudia Wrobel and Caitriona Kelly. Young people strutted their stuff and displayed their fashion. Holly Reed took home the prize for best dressed. The local

medieval history group Éireann Edge dazzled people with their sword skills and manys a great game of Ultimate Frisbee was had. A big thanks goes out to all the par-ticipants and sponsors who include Arena 7, Watson Hire, Tempest, McDonald’s, Gamestop, Brian McCormick Sports and Leisure, Domino’s Pizza, Link 2, Patrick Gil-dea Hairdressing Team, TK Maxx and Pounds & Pence. A huge thank you to everyone who came out on the day! It would not have been a massive success without every single person!

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Staff Profile

Tell me about yourself:

I’m 22 and I live in Letterkenny. I’m full of fun and love to strike up a good conversa-tion! I trained as a primary school teacher and enjoyed that very much.

Why did you decide to work with the Youth Information Centre?

I have been volunteering in the YIC for years. Before that I was a teenager coming into the YIC back when it was down in the Celtic Apartments. I have always had a spe-cial appreciation for the work of the YIC and the Donegal Youth Service and I was thrilled with the opportunity to work with them more as the Youth Development Officer.

What has it been like so far?

One of my first big tasks was coordinating the Party in the Park. It was three weeks of phone calls, meetings, booking bands and just a little bit of stress. It was great fun! The day was a big success and I was very pleased that everyone enjoyed it. Since then I’ve been working away in the drop-in getting to know people and allowing them to get to know me as the Youth Development Officer and organising a few groups to get started up soon.

What is the Youth Development Officer?

It is my job to develop new and exciting things for young people in the YIC. This is the job that Frankie McGreevy has been doing brilliantly over the last few years (he is now working on the Beyond Borders project). I’ll be organising several groups and continuing some groups that are already established. Some of these groups will be a Social Network Safety group for people aged 12-15. If you’ve got a great idea about something that can be done in the YIC for you and your friends let me know! If you have any questions about what I do or what the YIC does ask away! You may have seen me about the drop in and if you do feel free to say hi!

Have you any other interests/hobbies?

I have a huge interest in films! If you ever want to chat about films or have a burning question about trying to remember an ac-tor’s name, I may very well be able to help you out! I love music! I play the trumpet. I also do a bit of acting. I’ve lost count of the times I have performed on the stage of An Grianán! I currently train with broadswords and I also write the Manny Man comics and the Manny Man Does Shakespeare books.

New Recruit:

John RuddyYouth Development Officer

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OVER 18’s DROP-INLetterkenny Youth Information Centre will soon be offering a new Drop-in service for young people aged 18-25. The service will run on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 11am-1pm. The service offers participants a supportive environment in relation to preparing for work, including CV preparation, interview preparation, job seeking etc. It will also be possible to avail of one to one support with a staff member from the Youth Information Centre in order to help establish their next steps on the road to training or employment.

INFO AVAILABLE ON:Employment Rights & Entitlements Understanding Tax CV Preparation Interview Preparation Job Seeking Skills Dealing with conflict in the workplace Self Assessment

Participation is FREE For more information contact: Letterkenny Youth Information Centre on 074-9129640

STUDENT TRAVEL CARDLetterkenny Youth Information Centre is an agent for the Student Travel Card. We can process your card for you in the centre. See www.studenttravelcard.ie for more details on the discounts on offer.

FACEBOOKWe are now on Facebook. Just search “Letterkenny YIC” and add us for regular updates and info.

EURODESKThinking of travelling, working or volunteering in Europe. Letterkenny YIC are your local Eurodesk Relay. We have access to lots of European Information so give us a call today.

WEEKLY ACCOMMODATION & EMPLOYMENT LISTOur weekly employment and accommodation lists for Letterkenny can now be accessed online. see www.donegalyouthservice.ie/yic for more details.

YOUTH MEDIA GROUPThe Youth Media Group meets Tuesday evenings from 6-8pm. If you would like to get involved contact a member of staff now. HEALTH NEEDS SURVEYLetterkenny YIC will be conducting an online survey to find out what the health needs and concerns of young people are.

DROP IN HOURSThe YIC drop in continues to open until 6pm Monday to Thursday, while we are open to 5pm on Fridays. The Loft drop-in remains open until 8pm on Wednesday and Thursdays and opens from 5-10pm on Fridays, as well as 2-6pm on Saturdays.

DRUG USE SURVEYLetterkenny YIC are currently developing a survey to investigate the perceptions of drug use among teenagers in Letterkenny. The survey will be conducted during the Autumn and the results will be available soon.

YOUTH ACTION GROUPThe Youth Action Group meets on Thursday evenings and works together on how to improve our Youth Information service, as well as helping to organise some of the bigger events we are involved in. Talk to a member of staff now to find out more.

OUTREACH IN SCHOOLSLetterkenny YIC are reguarly providing outreach in different schools across the town and county. We offer workshops in a range of areas including peer mentoring, school council training, internet safety workshops, study skills & much more. Contact the centre if you feel we could be of benefit to your school.

SAFE SOCIAL NETWORKINGThis group is aimed at 12-15 year olds and we’ll be looking at aspects of how we see and present ourselves on social networking sites. This interactive group will meet on Mondays from 6-8pm. Talk to a member of staff now.

Learning Opportunities forTeens LetterkennyGroups & CoursesCourses and training programmes for the Autumn term are now enrolling and will commence at theend of September. A full list of the courses is detailed below.If you would like toenrol in any of the courses, please contact anymember of staff

Letterkenny’s Top Teens

HIFY - Health Initiative for Youth

JC Support

Song Club

Albert Schweitzer’s Leadership for Life

Mind Yourself

Youth Achievements

Young Women’s Group

ABOUT LETTERKENNY YOUTH INFORMATION CENTREThe Youth Information Centre is a well established resource for the local community providing Young people and those who work with them a one stop shop for information and training opportunities in the following areas:

Job and Housing Lists - Law and Justice - CV Preparation - Travel opportunities - College applications - Student Travel card service - Practice for Driver Theory Test - Leadership training - Media skills training - Drop in service

Letterkenny Youth Information Centre, 16-18 Port Road, Letterkenny, Co. DonegalTel 0749129640 or email yicletterkenny@donegalyouthservice.ie

WHAT’S COMING UP?

Phone 07491-88271 or email loftstaff@gmail.com

YIC LETTERKENNY SERVICES & PROGRAMMES

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