OFIAICHSTUDENTS ‘CREATE THEGREAT’

DKIT GRADUATE’S INNOVATIVE PROGRAMME HELPED TY PUPILS EXPLORE THEIR POTENTIAL AS MENTORS

AN innovative programme aimed at helping young people explore their creative capabilities and explore their potential as leaders and mentors has just been completed at O Fiaich College.

And on Monday, former governor of Mountjoy Prison, John Lonergan, gave an inspiring speech as 27 of the course’s participants received their certificates.

The six week programme, called ‘Create the Great in You’ was devised by former DkIT student Mark McCormack. He said: ‘ The idea of our mentoring workshops and peer-based conversations is to provide a space where young people get an opportunity to express themselves and work in teams.

‘ The O Fiaich College programme was the pilot one and we were delighted with the level of interest and engagement from the Transition Year students who participated. We feel the programme can be adapted to suit people of all ages and could be used in a variety of different settings including community groups, clubs and corporations’.

Mark, who is a father of three from Ardee, returned to education as a mature student and graduated from DkIT in 2015 with a BA in Social Care Work. He had previously worked as a doorman for years.

He was awarded the President’s Prize that year for his outstanding contribution to the college and the community. In addition, he co-authored, with Dr Bernadette Brere, a paper about the importance of mentoring in education that was chosen to represent Ireland at the European Sociological Education Con- ference which took place in Finland last year.

He said: ‘Having worked on door security for many years, I could see first hand some of the problems that young people were having and to some extent, that was reflected in my own life. I found myself wanting to help guide the next generation and I think that is where the logic in putting this programme together came from.

‘Essentially, it is about getting to know yourself, how you can fit into society, how you can help people’.

It was through his social care work that Mark first got to know Mr Lonergan and the pair have a good relationship. The former governor was delighted to come to Dundalk on Monday to make the certificate presentations.

O Fiaich students, over the course of the six week programme, were able to focus on issues before they became problems. There was a trip to Carlingford included as well as a comedy workshop and poetry workshop where students were able to express themselves in new and innovative ways.

In addition, there were workshops on community and creativity as well as an introduction to mentoring so that students were able to see the skills they have which can help those younger than them.

Mark said: ‘It was really interesting and successful and I am grateful to O Fiaich College TY co-ordinator Audrey Flood and principal Padraig McGovern for being supportive of the programme.

For more information on the ‘Create the Great in You’ programme, contact Mark at markmaccormack@ gmail.com