YENI and JAI Propose Creation of a Pilot Residential Programme Targeting 12-13 Year Olds

LET Programme (LEARNING AND EDUCATING TOGETHER)

Background Information

Young Enterprise NI (YENI) and Junior Achievement Ireland (JAI) deliver a residential programme targeting 12-13 year olds at risk of disaffection and alienation from mainstream education. Sixty schools located in the most marginalized areas North and South participate in a cross border/cross community initiative. The project is primarily a preventative initiative and aims to

1. promote peace and reconciliation between 600 young people from both communities in Northern Ireland and the border counties of the Republic of Ireland
2. introduce young people aged 12-13 to the entrepreneurial concept by changing attitudes and perceptions of enterprise

Students participating in the programme attend three residential camps during the school year where they participate in a range of outdoor pursuits and interactive workshops focused on

1. peace and reconciliation with an emphasis on facilitating understanding of different cultures and respective roles in society
2. communication

1. exploration of how environmental considerations impact on the economy and sustainable business
2. business start up and the role of small business
3. personal finance and budgeting

The project targets 400 young people aged 12-13 from perceived unionist and nationalist secondary schools in Northern Ireland and 200 young people in the border counties of the Republic of Ireland. Twenty groups of 30 participants drawn equally from the three cohorts each complete a series of two x 3-day residentials and a third 4 day residential.

The LET Programme is funded by the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) in an effort to promote peace and reconciliation in the North and South of Ireland and improve employability among youth. The Fund also supports the successful KEY Programme, which is administered by YENI and JAI.

The International Fund for Ireland is an international organisation established by the British and Irish Governments in 1986 with the objective of promoting economic and social advancement and of encouraging contact, dialogue and reconciliation between Unionists and Nationalists throughout Ireland. Contributors to the Fund are the United States, the European Union, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

Programme Delivery

The LET Programme is delivered from an outdoor activity centre. When staff are not delivering training they will operate from an office located in Irvinestown. The post will require at least one overnight stay per week October-Mayand will involve considerable travel. YENI operate a time in lieu policy to compensate for unsocial working hours.

Please note that there are two outdoor activity centres currently used to facilitate the LET programme with one Young Enterprise NI LET team operating at Lusty Begs Island with a Young Enterprise NI office in Irvinestown and a second team operation from Portneal Lodge, Kilrea (YENI office in Derry).