From Boom to Bust

Brief description

The members of the Youth Café are working towards building a performance
on the theme of Poverty and how the recession is impacting upon their lives. for "Global Fest" in June. The group has divided into two as
they learn drama and music skills. The boys' group is learning music skills,
including drums, guitar, keyboard, performance and song writing. They are individually learning how to play and they are now beginning to consolidate their learning by working more as a group and producing a cd together. The girls are learning drama skills and, through group discussions on the theme of poverty and the recession, they are writing and improvising their story which will be performed for the public. The music and drama group is gaining experience in mentoring, as it includes the younger members of the project in its performance whilst teaching them the skills they have learned in the workshops. This important dimension has meant that all the young people are active learners thoughout the whole process. It is also a powerful opportunity for them in the future as they can reference the project on their CV and acknowledge the new skills they are learning.

How did your idea come up ?

The group was interested in learning music and drama skills and was easily able to identify with the theme of poverty, which complimented the youth inaction priorities. Individuals were able to reflect on their own stories about
friends and family and how the recession is impacting upon their lives.

Objectives

- To promote active citizenship locally and to connect these issues globally
- To build self confi dence through learning drama and music skills
- To build the ability to work together as a group and with others in the community
- To be able to freely and openly share their ideas and experiences of the recession and its impact on themselves and their community.
- To experience and understand cultural diversity

Strong points

The trip to Delphi was amazing and created a strong group dynamic. The
girls' drama group led the boys in a drama workshop and the boys all took
one girl each and taught them a music workshop. This was very successful
and the confidence of the participants was greatly improved. It prepared them
for the peer leadership element of the programme. The peer leadership with
the younger participants is proving very fruitful and the older members are taking the challenge very seriously. Some of the members of the music group, who are a little scared of performing in front of their peers, are excelling in teaching younger members one to one. Both the drama and music group participants are gaining new skills such as facilitation skills, performance skills, communication skills which will enhance their employment opportunities for the future.

Pitfalls / difficulties

At the moment exam pressure is slowing down the process, but we're hoping
the June holidays will create the space the young people need to practise
as a whole group. There are many different levels within the two groups
and the joining of the two groups for a joint performance is proving difficult.

Name of the organisation / Partners

We are linking with Newbury House, a communityarts centre in Cork. Patricia, a volunteer from Columbia, is working with the drama group helping to prepare them for their performance in the "Global Fest" on the 26th of June.
The music group has also been asked to perform on the 19th at the local bonfi re festival and the drama group has been asked to perform in St Luke's Home
for the elderly in early June. Through these links and partnerships the group is gaining an intercultural experience and getting diff erent perspectives on thework it is creating.

Duration

02.2009 -- 07.2009

Contact

denise.cahalane@Foroige.ie