YURT! Youth Unemployment Rethinking Together!
Start date: Aug 1, 2015,
End date: Jan 31, 2016
PROJECT
FINISHED
This project YURT (Youth Unemployment Rethinking Together was an 'EXTENtion' of a youth exchange project called EXTEND undertaken between Limerick Youth Service & Inklin 20+ Parish Group in 2014. 30 young people (18-25years) from Limerick Youth Service & Inklin 20+ Parish Group participated on this project. All participants faced unemployment, part-time/ unstable employment, difficulty in accessing relevant education or training to match their ambitions.
YURT! grew from an emerging theme generated during EXTEND. Here participants explored unemployment at a broad scale (EU / National level) as well as focused on soft skills that enabled them to become more employable within a difficult economic climate. YURT continued this focus on unemployment for young people, but focused in on Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing -a clear theme that has emerged from the initial exchange . Discussions with participants highlighted that for many young people they are "finding themselves in a bad place" due to fewer opportunities available and the changing transitions young people face as a result of unemployment. Participants highlighted they were facing situations where they found severe difficulties to get into long-term employment and thus finding a meaning & purpose in life.
This programme sought to provide a structure, space and opportunity to delve deeper into the links between mental health and unemployment, compare the associated problems being faced by young people in both countries, analyze the possible solutions, develop participants' resilience skills and attitudes, and share/debate their views with other people in the community.
Non formal learning was the primary methodology for this exchange. Through this project participants developed many skills which sought to enhance their employment opportunities. These included inter-personal skills, practical skills such as planning, organisational, life skills including teamwork, communication and leadership skills. We enhanced coping skills and being aware of ways to maintain positive mental health. They were equipped in their journeys to employment keeping at the core their positive wellbeing. Participation in this project sought to address the muilti faceted and many times hidden issues experienced by the young people, preparing them to develop a healthy and stronger position when searching for, entering and remaining in employment.
The following were the expected impacts and we hope are the long term benefits for participants
Young people
-develop important life skills
-are more informed of employment/ mental well being issues
-are better prepared for the working environment
-are in a position to support their mental well being, will understand the important of this and the possible results of poor mental health
-gain certification from their learning
-gain visibility in their local communities
-are exposed to mobility and future opportunity within the Erasmus+ programme
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