The Youth of Howth Parish respond to the ‘CalI’

 

An innovative and progressive programme for Transition Year Students in the Howth Parish area has just completed its 2nd year, with a graduation ceremony in the Stella Maris Retreat Centre, Howth Summit, on Thursday, May 14th, 2009.

 

24 students took part from a range of 6 schools which serve the Howth area:

All participants were presented with an Achievement Certificate for their transition year portfolio by Fr. Brendan Houllhan P.P.

 

“The purpose of the programme is to foster in our youth a greater spirit of self-belief, personal development, and in particular community awareness, leading to more active community involvement. The response and participation by students, it has to be said, exceeded all our expectations” said Paul Fagan, Chairman, Howth Parish Youth Group, at the graduation ceremony.

The programme consisted of 6 active working sessions held in the Sea Scout Hall on the West Pier, Howth and in the old St. Columbanus School Hall in the town, over the course of the academic year. An experienced facilitator from the Parish, Fionnuala Walsh, ran the programme in a professionally managed and secure environment, coupled with creative course content. Guest speakers also took part to address specific topics. One working session was

led by the Peace Corps; a Dublin based Youth & Community Organisation which promotes positive action in the community.

 

The final working session was devoted to ‘career guidance’ with participation from a number of local businesspeople from all walks of life.

“This particular session was a real revelation where a pin could be heard falling to the floor such was the attention and interest from the students” said Paul Fagan, Chairman. A noted practical dimension of the programme was the involvement of the students in a number of local activities during the course of the year. At Christmas time the students raised E652 by way of Carol Singing for the Senior Citizens Christmas Party for which many of the students also lent appreciated assistance, which included ‘some fancy footwork on the dance

floor by all accounts’.

 

An additional feature this year was a Christmas Get-Together in Kllrock House, a local HSE residential home, which provided a great gathering of students with neighbours, friends and Kilrock House residents in the traditional spirit of Christmas. This particular evening was enllvened by good music, song, craic and dance, all enhanced by a lively group of Fingal balladeers.