CreatetheGreat inlocalyoung people
CREATE the Great in You Ltd is a newly formed social enterprise which aims to focus on young people in transition year and leaving certificate applied in schools.
C- Change is a tailor made 6 week programme which includes rap, archaeology, poetry and magic & comedy workshops. Using mentoring workshops and peer-based conversations “Create the Great in You Ltd” aims to provide young people with a space to explore how communication, collaboration and creativity can be applied to develop both community and relationships.
Participants will be both challenged and facilitated to openly explore and express their passion, identity and potential. Individuals can expect to grow in confidence, enhance their interpersonal skills and be more empathetic toward their peers.
On April 3rd 2017 at the Comhaltas Centre Dundalk Mark Mc Cormack the founder of “Create the Great in You Ltd” piloted the 6 week programme in O’ Fiaich College Dundalk. The transition year students from O’ Fiaich Institute of Further Education were presented with their certificates for successfully completing the Create the Great in You Ltd Mentoring & Self Development Programme. Twenty seven students received a certificate of participation from Create the Great in You in association with O’ Fiaich College & four received medals for communication, collaboration, creativity & mentoring.
Since the initial pilot programme Create the Great in You is currently working alongside three schools in the Louth/ Meath including St Louis Secondary School, Colaiste Cuchulainn and O’ Carolan College with over 200 students.
Mark Mc Cormack the founder of Create the Great in You started this endeavour in 2015 after graduating from Dundalk Institute of Technology where he received a Level 8 BA Hons Degree in Social Care Work. Mark was awarded a Presidents Prize for his contribution to community and college life and has since co-authored a paper alongside Dr Bernadette Brereton which was represented in Milan September 2016 at the (ESA) European Sociological Education Conference. Entitled Education and Empowerment: Theories and Practices, the theme of the conference centred on the changing values of education in an era of increased diversity and access.
Our team include the newly recruited Alan Forde who met with Mark Mc Cormack while studying on the same programme in Dundalk Institute of Technology. Alan was awarded a Level 8 BA (Hons) Degree in Social Care work. Alan is a Meath GAA county player and has proven both a champion on and off the field. He has brought his passion for working with young people into the school arena and is now the Community Development Officer for the social enterprise. Alan believes the programmes should be delivered within the GAA community and is going to advocate for the implementation of our C- Change programme within communities in the Louth/Meath area initially. Alan stated his motive for joining the social enterprise is to make a difference.
Our team include Simon Ryan (Magician), Tommy G (Rap Artist)).Dr Alison Lennon (Archaeology workshops). People have endorsed Create The Great In You Ltd include Helen Mc Entee, Shane Cassells, Peadar Toibin, Damien English, Fergus O Dowd, John Lonergan, Professor Thomas Collins, Dr Kevin Howard (DKIT), Dr Bernadette Brereton (DKIT), Dr Deirdre Mc Ardle former lecturer (DKIT), Dr Paddy Greer former lecturer (DKIT), Liam O’ Gogain former lecturer (DKIT) & Denis Cummins former lecturer (DKIT) and currently works as The Dean of Hibernia College
We also have a tailor-made programme called “3MI” which focuses on young men in Ireland and looks at issues such as careers and relationship, gender, violence, justice, sexuality & masculinity. Dr Kevin Howard is the main facilitator for the programme. It has been successfully delivered in Dundalk Institute of Technology (Life Long Learning Centre) with Anton Barrett in December 2015 and the second was facilitated in Newry & Mourne win Industrial Estate with Stephen Mc Clelland.
On the 4th of December we graduated students from O’ Carolan College in Nobber Co. Meath with their Transition Year Students under the supervision of Amanda Scully (TY Co-ordinator) and Aoife Callinan (Careers Guidance) Helen Loftus ( Vice Principal) and Cathal Rogers (Principal) at the school welcomed Mark Mc Cormack and his team into the school to work alongside the students.
Denis Cummins presented the students of Transition Year class Cillin with their certificates of participation for their hard work, honesty throughout the programme. Denis informed Mark afterwards he saw huge potential for the students to engage in careers in teaching and should contact Hibernia College for information when they finish the leaving certificate. Mark Mc Cormack awarded seven medals to students he felt excelled in their interpersonal skills. The winners included Niamh O’ Reilly (Communication), Roisin Wilkins (Collaboration), Krystian Bachan (Creativity), Rachel Kiernan & Thomas O’ Connell (Presentation Skills), Abigail O’ Regan (TeamWork), Mark Hickey (Active Listening) and the award for peer mentor went to Niall Mc Mahon who demonstrated exceptional interpersonal skills combined with an attitude that he can pass on to young people at school and in the wider community.
Local Businessman from Ardee Mr David Courtney (Advanced Digital Security Ireland) gave two lucky students (Evan Almighty Carry & Dean the Machine Carolan) an opportunity to carry out their student work experience work in his business.
On behalf of Mark Mc Cormack (Founder) of Create The Great In You Ltd and his team we would like to thank all the schools we have currently worked and wish you all a very merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
For a consultation in a school, club, corporate or community event please do not hesitate to contact Mark on 0871194839 for sales or email: mark@ createthegreatinyou.com for information. For any information regarding GAA clubs and general enquiries contact Alan Forde (Community Development Officer) on 0851592673. Our website is currently under construction www.createthegreatinyou.com.