Solas On Rails: Trip of a Lifetime
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By Rachel O’Callaghan, Youth Justice Worker
“Was honestly a trip of a lifetime and thanks for the chance to be a part of it, I made memories of a lifetime that I’ll never forget.” - Kieran
As a youth justice worker, a big part of our role is supporting young people to see possibilities beyond the circumstances they may have grown up in. Sometimes that starts with simply giving them the opportunity to experience something different.
Recently, we brought a group of 4 young people from Dublin 8 and Dublin 12 on a seven day trip across Europe as part of the DiscoverEU Inclusion Action. We got the chance to explore Nice, Monaco, Milan and Lake Garda. The aim of the trip was simple: to broaden their horizons, expose them to new experiences and give them the opportunity to see different cultures, environments and ways of life across Europe. Throughout the trip, we had conversations about culture, class, barriers and opportunities. We visited places that were very different from the environments the young people were used to, including areas associated with significant wealth and opportunity. From sunset swims and time on the beach in Nice, to the fast pace of Milan and the slower pace of life around Lake Garda, the trip showed them that there are many different ways to experience the world. We stayed in hostels and met other travellers from all over the world, and ended the trip in our own private Airbnb.
New Perspectives
We had many different conversations throughout the trip, that teased out differences and similarities, challenged their norms and planted seeds that offered a different perspective or future possibilities that they will continue to reflect on as this trip becomes a memory but the impact carries on. One conversation with a young person particularly stood out to me. They spoke about realising there was a whole world outside of their life in Dublin. More importantly, we were able to talk about the fact that this world isn't necessarily out of reach. We discussed what it could look like for them to travel, experience different countries and what steps they could take to make that possible. Another we had, was when we were in Monaco where there was a stark difference in wealth to what we are used to. This brought up the of feeling of being out of place and not looking like we should be here and what stereotypes would be used to describe us, but also what we use for them. We really teased this out and debated wealth, what makes you a good person etc. We reminded them they have every right to be here as anyone else.
“Definitely I couldn’t be happier with myself for actually going and doing it, it really opened my eyes that there’s so much in the world to go see.” – Kean
Real Possibilities
Sometimes young people can only aspire to what they have been exposed to. By taking them to different countries, introducing them to new experiences and giving them the opportunity to see different ways of life, we were able to make some of those possibilities' feel real. The trip wasn't about showing them that one way of life is better than another. It was about showing them that there are choices, opportunities and experiences beyond what they may have previously imagined. We hope they came home with more than photographs and memories. We hope they came home with a slightly bigger idea of what their future could look like. Where you come from can shape you, but it doesn't have to define where you can go.
“I was having second thoughts of even going on the trip a few days before but I’m so happy I went and got to experience it, it was a life changing experience and I’d 10000 percent do it again.” -John
