Solas@School becomes Solas@Home

Solas College starts the conversation with children about their potential to reach college. It’s part of our Solas@school initiative which this year has become Solas@Home as we haven’t been able to go into classrooms. Still, we were eager to check in virtually, with the intention of meeting the students again in person next year in their first year of secondary. 

To help the 6th class kids start thinking about their own education and futures, our European Solidarity Corps volunteers shared their own educatonal journeys to date on a Zoom video. We want the young people now half way through their school education to know that there are so many different opportunities and options ahead. 

Here’s what Marta, Ines and Cecile our ESC volunteers shared…highs, lows, hard choices and doubts…read on to find out how they ended up here in Ireland with Solas Project!

Marta. Age 27. Spain

The compulsory education age in Spain goes from 6 to 16. After that, you have the option to continue in school or to pursue a professional apprenticeship. Me, I chose a Humanities High School but later you must do a university entrance exam if you want to go to college. You need to get the highest mark you can if you want to have more options to choose a degree. I had enough to choose my favourite one: teaching for primary education.

During the four years of the degree, I studied one semester in Norway with an Erasmus+ program. That was my first experience living abroad, and it was hard but also rewarding, so I decided I would do it again in a future.

When I finished college, I got lost. What can I do now? I tried to work but everyone asked for experience. I was just graduated, what experience could I have? So I continued studying several courses related with education and improving my languages skills. I found some badly paid jobs with fixed-term contracts so I made the decision to study a master’s degree in educational orientation while I was working.

Once I finished university, I continued looking for a job and finally I found one as a part-time teacher in a private academy. It wasn’t my ideal job but at least I was working in the right field. While I was there, I couldn’t stop thinking about my experience abroad so I signed up in European Solidarity Corps portal and I found and applied for the position in Solas Project. I got it and left my job to be able to focus on this new experience.

When I had almost everything ready, Covid-19 arrived. My life, as others, stopped. What is going to happen? Should I postpone the volunteering? Should I stay in Spain? Doing what?

I decided to risk, at least, to travel and do something that would make me happy.

And here I am.

What will happen after that? I don’t know, but I know that I’m going to have this experience with me and it can help me in a future to achieve my dream job.

Ines Gitzoller. Age 27. Italy. 

My educational journey started in primary school at age 6. Then to secondary school.

After my first year in university studying Philosophy which I thought I’d love, I realised I wasn't satisfied with my choice. Instead of pushing through with it, I decided to change my degree course. I had to repeat the first year, meaning that for the first time I was no longer in step with my peers. At first, I perceived this as a failure, because I had to go back and admit that I made the wrong choice. But, after a while, I was grateful to myself: if I hadn't made the wrong choice first, maybe I would never have found my way to the right one.

Three years in university flew by quickly, allowing me also to spend one Erasmus year in France.

One I finished my Masters in teaching, including one internship, I received a job offer from Berlin. Everything was settled: I just had graduate and start packing for a new life.

It was March 2020 when my country was the first one in Europe to be hit by the wave of Covid19. So, instead of experiencing the traditional graduation, I graduated during lockdown in my room. My job offer vanished and I found myself at home, absolutely uncertain about my future.

But in those days, I noticed an extraordinary wave of solidarity crossing my community: young people were helping the elderly, looking out for each other in hard times. After doing some research, I came across an inspiring offer by Solas Project: a one-year volunteering opportunity. The project really convinced me, so I submitted my application and luckily I was accepted: in August I left all my worries behind and flew to Dublin.

Ever since, I am living and working here. I am learning new things every day and the challenges I have faced introduced me to my strengths. I have become truly appreciative of what I have and excited about what is yet to come. This situation will not last forever and if you look hard enough you can still find opportunities around you. 

Cecile. Age 19. Germany.

I started school, kindergarten at 3 years old. As a teenager during high school I worked in a retirement home on the weekends to earn some extra pocket money, which was a really rewarding experience.

I finished school last year (June 2020).

What and where did I want to study next? I had no clue where to go. That led me to the idea of taking a gap year with the intention to volunteer abroad. I knew that a voluntary year would give me the opportunity to widen my horizons by getting to know new perspectives of the world and myself. I also knew that I would really enjoy to support people that might need a little extra help.

My original plan was to volunteer for a year in Thailand but due to Covid I had to cancel my placement. Then, I luckily found a placement in Ireland from the Solas Project. They were urgently looking for a volunteer and I knew this was my chance. I couldn’t be happier.

So far, I learned that even if some doors in life are closing because of some unexpected circumstances like Covid, there are always other doors that are opening at the same time. You just have to use the given chances and try to make the best out of it.

My next goal in my life’s journey is to study something that matches my skills and passion to find a job that fulfils me with happiness and contentment. I am definitely open for every path.

A long-awaited kebab

Compass is our Prison programme which provides support and practical assistance for 18 – 24 year olds who are in or have been in prison.

Compass was established in 2012 with a vision to “love every young offender in Ireland away from re-offending and towards a new life”.

Our mentors spend time in prison running workshops, playing sports, and getting to know the lads. They work on a post-release plan together to set up practical support, assistance and mentoring to help reintegration into the community. Eanna shares the story of one young person’s release below:

“One of my favourite moments in Compass recently was collecting a young person from prison who had been taking part in our in-prison programmes for nearly two years.  

Without fail, he would always ask if we could bring him in a kebab but unfortunately, we were not allowed (it still didn't stop him from asking though!). As I'm sure you can guess, one of the first places I took him when he was released, was to get his long-awaited kebab.

I'm not sure I've ever seen someone enjoy a kebab so much! There was pure joy on his face. It reminded me to be so grateful for what I have and to appreciate the small moments.

Getting released from prison might sound like a fantastic time but amidst some of the highs, it is often a very overwhelming and challenging transition as well. Our hope is that we can help make the transition a little bit easier and the journey a little bit more joyful, even with something as simple as a kebab!”

We look forward to hearing more stories from young people in Compass via Eanna and the team.

Growing up together: The Bridge

What is The Bridge?

The Bridge is one of the three After School Clubs run by Solas Project Monday - Thursday.

The name The Bridge represents a bridge from primary school into secondary school. The concept arose out of a need for a more specialised intervention for 11 – 13 year olds going through this transition.

The Bridge is a home away from home for those in final year of primary school through to the end of 1st year secondary school.

“I come to The Bridge to spend time with my friends who I’ve made through the clubs who aren’t in my school” 

1st years in The Bridge will also each have a mentor as part of our Step Up programme and so have this double layered support through the transition.

 “It’s a good place to get your homework done before you go home to chill at night”

What makes the Bridge different?

In The Bridge young people prepare for and navigate the transition to secondary school through workshops and trips. Young people have more independence than they had in the younger After School clubs for example making their way to club by themselves. They also form part of the decision making process for activities and rewards.

“My favourite thing about club is all the different projects like the Easter and summer project where we get to spend our days doing rock climbing or canoeing and having a laugh”

We help them to think about making healthy life choices and give them increased responsibility to work on their organisational skills.

“The best thing about club is the overnight we get to go on every year. There’s so many activities and it’s just like a giant sleepover with all your friends” 

There is a greater emphasis on personal development during these crucial years –a time of self-discovery.

The Bridge facilitates peer support, growth, learning from healthy role models in staff and volunteers and as a bonus the young people’s horizons are broadened as they build on relationships with an international cohort of volunteers.

“It’s cool that we get to meet new people every year that come from all over the world to help out in club”

Growing up together, The Bridge young people have a safe space to share with peers who they trust and adults who want the very best for their futures. Our goal is to ensure young people move away from simply attending school to being engaged with the learning process. We believe this is the cornerstone of paving a successful path into adulthood.  

All quotations above in italics are from young people currently attending The Bridge (February 2021).

“We cannot arrest our way out of Crime & Social Exclusion”

Note: This piece was written before this week's shooting of a 17-year-old here in the South West Inner City. However, in light of this event its content is more relevant than ever. We believe that every young person has the right to grow up in a world where they can be safe and live free from the dangers of the criminal world and are committed to being active at community and policy level so this can become a reality.

This week the Department of Justice launched its Justice Strategy Statement and the Justice Plan 2021. The launch occurred against the backdrop of a recent spate of serious crime involving young people around Dublin City. In one case, this resulted in the death of a young person and in another, the death of a woman walking home from work. Speaking at the launch, Minister James Browne stated:

“We cannot arrest our way out of crime, we cannot arrest our way out of social exclusion, and we cannot arrest our way out of poverty. We need to develop social capital by supporting families and communities and by empowering youth workers.”

Solas Project fully supports this statement.  We also recognise the seriousness of these issues and condemn attacks on all people. We want to be part of building a city where everyone – young, old, all races, genders and creed – can live safely and free from intimidation and indeed violence.

We believe that it is not enough to express horror and condemn such violence, but that action is required. We are concerned about some commentary and calls for action against young people living in our city. These calls range from demanding harsher sentences “lock them up and throw away the key”, to the complete dehumanising of these young people and disregard for their age, circumstances or their potential to change.

While harsher sentences might seem a like a good quick fix they do little to stop crime happening in the first place. We are calling for a focus on prevention rather than punishment. Research suggests that harsher sentences do little to deter a young person from acting in a certain way. A young person who picks up a knife is not in that moment considering the difference between a 2-year or a 5-year prison sentence. They are caught up on the issue at hand: What do they need the money for? Why are they feeling threatened? How can they defend themselves?

So what is the solution?

In 2005, in response to serious youth-based knife crime, the Scottish Government launched the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) and started treating knife crime with a public health approach. This government funded unit operates by forming strong, close relationships between the police and key workers in the health, education and social sectors to support vulnerable young people in often neglected communities. The objective of the VRU is to offer these individuals alternative opportunities, and crucially, a way out of the spiral of violence that they often find themselves in.

This community-led approach sees the police engage directly with the young people most at risk of engaging in violence. Young people are spoken to in plain terms and develop positive relationships with mentors in key sectors. The success of this public health approach can be seen in the statistics, most notably that since the establishment of the VRU, the number of homicides in Glasgow has dropped by 65%.

Solas Project currently operates the Rua programme which works intensely with young people caught up in the criminal justice system to support them in building a new crime-free, positive life. At the halfway point of this 4-year intervention, over 50% of the young people had halted the downward trajectory of their life. Investment into a programme such at the VRU in Scotland or Rua here in Dublin would not only reduce serious crime and makes society safer, it would allow these young people to grow and flourish. 

It is also important to look at what is causing this rise in youth-based crime. What has allowed for the creation of this sub-culture?

We know that crime rises during periods of growing inequality and austerity. The young people involved in this behaviour have grown up during a decade of austerity and are suffering the consequences of social neglect and poverty. The communities where these events are taking place are also those that suffer the highest level of social neglect, unemployment and low education attainment. This sadly is not a coincidence.

We also cannot ignore the growing negative influence of the drug industry on young people in these communities. Recent research carried out by Dr Johnny Connolly from The University of Limerick suggests that in one part of Dublin, children as young as 10 or 11 – many of whom are still in primary school – are groomed by the gangs to be runners and carriers and are considered to be both “expendable” and “plentiful”. We simply cannot talk about tackling youth crime without addressing the influence that these criminal gangs are having on our young people.  

Alongside these factors we are now approaching almost one year of living through a global pandemic. The supports and structures that young people have typically relied on; school, sports, youth services etc. have been eroded leaving idle and impressionable young people behind, making them more vulnerable to both criminal grooming and addiction.

Solas Project is calling for preventative action that is community based with the needs of young people at its core.

We value the important role that Gardai play in promoting safe communities. We are calling for a concentration on community policing with a dialogue and solution-focused policing strategy, rather than the introduction of increased stop and search methods than can add to already existing tension in the community.

We are calling for targeted youth programmes that engage long-term with high-risk young people.

We are calling for the full implementation of the new Youth Justice Strategy 2021 -2026 (due to be launched soon) with a concentration on early intervention and prevention rather than punishment.

We believe that every young person has the right to grow up in a world where they can be safe and live free from the dangers of the criminal world. This is not just something that should be the privilege of those who live in wealthier areas of the city, this is a right for all our children and young people.

A thank you to Ann

This week we had a big goodbye.

Ann has been an integral part of Solas Project since shortly after it’s conception in 2007. Alongside Salla Heron, founder of Solas After School Project, Ann volunteered with our first After Schools club for ten girls in Basin Lane (the same premises we use for Junior After Schools today).

Ann most recently worked full time with us overseeing the day to day management of three After Schools clubs, 35 children, 3 staff, approx. 30 volunteers, students and interns. She spent the majority of her time with children aged 8 – 11 in the Senior After Schools club however she is known by many more young people spanning all ages and their families in the community. Ann has spent years in this area as a member of Solas Project and other organisations building rapport and credibility which has ensued Solas Project’s growth and strong reputation. Trust from young people, parents and local schools is key to our progress and success.

In the most humble way, we want to acknowledge Ann’s behind the scenes consistency, dedication and unwavering belief in the young people of Dublin 8. With the motto ‘any excuse for a celebration’, Ann has embraced our value of Joy wholeheartedly which shows in her own contagious laughter recognisable from afar, and in the children’s daily enjoyment of attending the After Schools Clubs.

Ann will be moving on to a new vocation very much in line with these same passions and skills and we’re excited for her in this new venture.

Thank you Ann from all of us at Solas Project.