An Un-passable Opportunity

15 months ago I was a relative newcomer to the YMCA. I started volunteering in my local Y the year before (North Down YMCA http://www.northdownymca.org) and had coincidentally ended up in a YMCA in America for a 10 week uni placement (Rockford YMCA http://www.rockfordymca.org).  It was then that Stephen Turner, the National Secretary of YMCA Ireland, suggested I apply for the ILP programme.

I wasn’t 100% sure what I was signing up for but from my few years experience I knew that the YMCA had a commitment to and a rich tradition of international youth work, a commitment that sets it apart from other youth organisations. As someone who is passionate about youth work and loves to travel and learn from other cultures, the opportunity to be part of a YMCA International Leadership Programme was a very appealing opportunity and one I did not pass up on.

So 15 months down the line, what have I experienced? What have I learned?

Being part of this group and getting to know leaders from the other 3 national movements has been great and has been a forum for us to question and debate what the YMCA is all about and how we can make the most of international opportunities.

Last year we attended the European Assembly in Prague and I was part of the YES group. Ken and others could talk endlessly about the role and function of these meetings but nothing compares to experiencing something for yourself. I would be lying if I said I understand fully the workings of YMCA Europe, but compared to 15months ago, I now know it exists, I now see the value of overarching priorities that European national movements agree with and commit to, I now know the encouragement that comes from making friends with people from all over Europe, united by the shared vision of the YMCA, I now know that I can influence the future direction of our organization at a National and European level.

I’ve learned more about the structures of the YMCA and now sit as a trustee on the board of YMCA Ireland. I’m still learning about how Local, National, European and World all connect. I’m keen to use my learning and opportunities I get through ILP to benefit my national and indeed my local YMCA. Just this weekend I’ve learned that this kind of benefit need only start with a conversation and sharing of experience with young people in my local YM to generate an excitement and enthusiasm of what possibilities exist, something I need to get better at!

Andy

Dillon again having an awesome in time Ireland. The day start off with meeting up with Andy at Nero. Which i will never go to again because off what happened. After there we went to the prison for a tour which was awesome we had a look at all the different cell blocks and what the prison was like in the past. Thething I liked the best at the prison was the secret door in the cell that was cool. I also enjoyed the history talk on the prison and learn about the different prisons that where there. I couldn;t stop laughing at the fact that someone filled a JCB with Semtex (LOL). I then got my picture taken in the stocks which looks awesome. After the prison we went to the City Hall which looked amazing for the inside and outside. The tour of the City Hall was very interesting and learned a lot about the buildings past. I got my picture taken in the Mayors chair woop we also had a look round the chambers. There where loads of interesting paintings that I liked. The city bus tour was well awesome we went around all the different tourist places. I was shocked because one of my Favorited TV shows was set there it is called Game of thrones. The best part of the day for me was going to North Down ymca and talking to there young leaders about how long they have been going to the ymca and what they like about and what they don't like about it. This was the best part of the because I have never seen so many young leaders work as good as they where at North Down (you guys where awesome). I also liked the fact that two members went out and try to get Kids to come to the ymca instead of drinking on the cold streets.

This is a very small and basic blog but i am very tired and don't know what else to say but a huge thanks to eveyone that helped and eveyone that we went to see cheers for having us.

Dillon Hall
Northumberland YMCA

Hello again, Alex here, today was day 2 of our visit to Northern Ireland and also our last real day here =[. We started the day with a tour of the Crumlin Road Gaol (jail) which is a closed prison in Belfast. It was open from 1845-1996. The tour was really interesting and I learnt a lot about the history of Northern Ireland whilst learning about the many prisoners that have lived and died in the prison. It was shocking to find out that the last person to be executed in the prison was as late as 1961. It also put into perspective the extent of the troubles in Northern Ireland when explaining why the prison was closed due to in mates from different political backgrounds causing harm and even killing each other. 

(Below are pictures of us all in the tunnel between the court house and the prison, as well as a picture of us all in front of the governor's quarter) 

The second part of the day was a tour of Belfast City Hall, this was really interesting and we learnt all about the history of the City and the history of the City Hall and its inhabitants over the years. (Probably could find a better word?) When we left the City Hall we saw a peaceful protest outside.

(Below are pictures of us all in the City Hall and then one of me sat in the Mayor's chair)

The third part of our day was a city bus tour it was really interesting to see Belfast and hear about it's history, I learnt a lot and it also put into context much of the work the YMCA is doing here in Northern Ireland.

After the bus tour we headed to the North Down YMCA info point and drop in centre based in a shopping centre in Bangor. I got to speak to some of the young people who use this service which was really interesting.They were all so keen to talk to me about their experience of the YMCA and also about how they feel the service is often not used to it's full potential due to the location and the reasons the young people go there. This made me think about the provision we provide back at my YMCA and made me think back to yesterday and the research interns looking at how me measure the outcomes of the services we provide.

The final part of our day was a visit to North Down YMCA it's self in which we visited the Saturday Night Project. This is probably the YMCA who's work and layout is the closest to mine back home. They also have a young leaders program much like the one that takes place in my YMCA and talking to some of the young people involved in this program was a really cool experience. It was great to see how young people just like the ones I work with get on with things in their YMCA and also see that they have the similar opinions and experiences to the young people back home. The young leaders were great and we had some really interesting conversations about their views on their YMCA as well as their opinions on some of the current/historical issues within Northern Ireland. It was great to see young people so enthused about their YMCA and the work they are doing. I also met Furg (I'm pretty sure he has a real name but I'm not too sure what it is...sorry =/) His story was really inspiring as he got involved with the YMCA as a young person with an "interesting" background and hobbies. He then came through the clubs in the YMCA leading to volunteering and paid full/part time work at various points in his life. It was also really inspirational to hear how he has stepped up to the mark when he was needed and is now looking after the club in a time of change for their YMCA. He has a really great relationship with his young people and it was good to see how he works with them in such an informal but effective way, what I would class as a real home grown, ground work style worker. I hope to stay in touch with the YMCA and maybe look at some future links?

I just want to finish this post by saying a MASSIVE thank you to Andy and Martine for hosting us this week end and for enabling us to have such an amazing experience. I don't know if they will read this but also a huge thank you to Andy's amazing friends who have taxied us around all weekend. I really hope this isn't the end of my experiences with in Northern Ireland!!

Alex Taylor

Barnsley YMCA

(using Rachel's account again)

A Silent Saturday Night?!?

Hey, Chelsea again :) sorry to drag you away from your lives to read my second blog on my time in Northern Ireland. Enjoy!

The day started with a nice calm coffee in the nearby cafe. Dillon and Andy were both acausted by what could only be described as a drunken elderly Cougar.
This then led onto a tour of the Crumlin Road Goal in Belfast. not only was the trip knowledgeable but also gave our imaginations to what belfast could of looked like and the things which had gone on. The trip was useful to know about when certain events stoped, i.e. the death penalty/hanging people and what had escalated from the hangings, i.e. the suicide of a young boy stopped allowing the young into adult jails.
We then went on  tour of the city hall. My first thought of this was "oooh dear!!" however there were no problems while we were visiting city hall. The tour had given me a bigger understand on Northern Ireland politically but also the events which happened within the hall and the halls they have to offer.
After a quick meal at Subway we then rushed onto a city bus tour, which had taken us all the way around belfast, mainly concentrating on the expensive places, i.e. anything to do with the titanic. however on the tour i had also saw the peace wall and all the inspirational quotes written along the wall, i can sadly say this brought a tear to my face.
We then went on to visit our final YMCA for the weekend. North Down has two different spaces, one located within a shopping mall is created to try to stop the ruckus within the malls and to give the young people a place to stay at for a while. after this space has closed the bigger more open space is opened for the night. a three story house with four different rooms for different activities. they do not have as many activities as they would like, however most the problems found for this was the building it would not be the correct layout for certain groups and activities. however it was shown throughout the amount of young leaders wanting to help out to show how well the current workers are with the young, shaping them into the new generation of youth workers.
  In addition to this the ride to the hotel room has to be blogged about. One of Andys friends had kindly offered to pick us up from the YMCA and drive us back. Not only was he being helpful but he was also a laugh to be with! it was joke after joke, Steven or Stephen was a good accomplice.
Overall my visit has been a life changing event and i cannot wait to come back and help out with the same YMCA's i have visited and MORE.

I WILL be Back

Crumlin Road Goal

Crumlin Road Goal

City Hall, Mayors Seat

City Hall

City Hall

Crumlin Road Goal

Chelsea Taylor

North Tyneside YMCA

posting on Rachel's due to account not working.  

Day 3 Northan Ireland

Day 3- Today we started off 10 o'clock by meeting Martine at the days hotel and then walked down to meet Andy at Cafe Nero, which was a funny morning for Andy and Dillon as a woman approached them haha, she was pretty strange for us she seemed to have been out all night and came straight to the coffee shop the next morning so you can imagine what she would be like haha. after we met up we had a coffee and started planning on what we were going to do today. So as it got to 11 o'clock we headed off to do the Crumlin Road Gaol which was very interesting in ways and good in information. The jail dates back to 1845 to 1996 we got plenty pictures of this place as we can show you in this blog. after that it was hitting on to half 12 we went to grab a bite at subway and then discussed what we were going to do next, we went to visit the City Center Hall which was interesting with the protest on the flags being put round. and a tour around the whole hall which was amazing so many stories of how it got bombed and burnt down and then built again and all the mayors of the past and present, As i say we have plenty other photos of the tours we did today so you will have a chance to see them at the end of this blog. After we had done them two tours it was time to head onto the City sites tour which we learnt lots about the peace walls there was a multiple selection of them it was brilliant and very exotic. And we seen plenty views about the Titanic and where the Titanic was based. After we had been through all the tours we headed off to North Down YMCA where Andy works, just before that we went for something to eat at this small restaurant which was lovely small place nice and quite, then we decided to head off the YMCA and see what was different about the northumberland YMCA and get a chance to talk to the young Volunteers like ourselves, they had tones to say i was surprised to hear on how many young volunteers weren't at all fussed about the protests on the flags and didn't really bother them. afterwards we got a chance to have a look round this YMCA and ask these Volunteers on how they got involved and if they enjoyed it and all them said yes of course they enjoyed it and this opportunity had changed there lives, because most kids if they don't go into the YMCA they would sit next to the little peer and just drink and do nothing hanging round on the streets. so after all we headed back to the Hotel and talked about what our highlights of the day was and what we learnt.

Hannah Elliott :)

The Visit to Ireland happening now

I thought I would give you a bit of background on the group of young people from England visiting the YMCA in Ireland this week-end.
They are young volunteers in their own YMCA's and range in age from 16 to 19. Dillon Hall and Hannah Elliot come from Northumberland YMCA, Chelsea Taylor comes from North Tyneside YMCA and Alec Taylor from Barnsley YMCA. Dillon, Hannah and Chelses are pursuing their Citizenship Award being facilitated by Alex. The youth worker with the group is Rachel Dyne from Tees Valley YMCA. Rachel is one of the growing leadership stars of the YMCA having engaged in Peacework initiatives in Bangladesh, India and Turkey alongside other seminars and workshops across Europe. Here day job with the YMCA is working with young carers.

Hannah, Dillon, Chelsea and Allex raised the money to fund themselves as well Rachel to go on the study visit.

Their hosts in Ireland are Andy Hamilton from North Down YMCA, Martine Mc Garry from Lisburn YMCA and Darryn Causby from YMCA Ireland, all in their early 20's and members of the YMCA's International Leadership Programme in Ireland, Wales and England.

As many of you will know this is YMCA England's blog that seeks to capture the experiences, in real time, of young people who engage in YMCA England's International programmes.

If you are reading this you are not alone. It is currently 10.00am Saturday here in England, today so far the blog has had 173 viewers from the UK, USA,Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Italy, China, Spain, France and Nigeria.

Looking forward to hearing how todays programme goes.