By Lem Leon
Public Achievement, which won the award for most innovative social project in Europe, is about building more democratic communities and helping young people to be citizens now rather than in the future.
The Public Achievement story began in 1998, when company director Paul Smyth took a study visit to the USA.
During his time there, Paul noticed by the way a particular project – sending university students to go into local communities and work with the people on an issue that they wanted to change – was managed. Impressed, he believed it was a model that he could implement efffectively in Northern Ireland.
APPLYING LESSONS TO NORTHERN IRELAND
The model was refined to work within contested spaces (like Northern Ireland) and has expanded to work in other countries such as Palestine, Spain and Guatemala, to name but a few.
All smiles: Andrea after receiving her Inclusive Society EVS award
I had the honour of interviewing Andrea Gibson, a training officer for Public Achievement.
Andrea expressed what a fantastic achievement it was for them. As is so often the case when working with young people, it is hard to assess the impact you’re having on them.
There are many variables as to why sometimes you don’t get to work with the same young people continuously so to win and an award like this is tremendous recognition for a job well done.
It also was a nice end to what Andrea described as a financially rough year for Public Achievement.
NATIONAL FUNDING SHORTAGE
She believes the current UK government isn’t doing enough when it comes to funding youth projects like these. In Northern Ireland, a lot of funding and money was driven into the country based on the conflict that was present at the time.
But since that conflict has been reduced, that funding is now being withdrawn.
There is a lot of promotion going into volunteering and joining the group, but ultimately no funds to properly support projects.
Andrea’s suggestion as to how to permanently resolve the conflict in Northern Ireland was to focus on something other than religion. She explained how religion is tied up in politics, and how everything, as a nation, was divided.
Churches, schools and even the streets they live in are divided. The country as a whole, Andrea says, needs to focus on something bigger than that to move forward.
‘STRUCTURED DIALOGUE’
She understands the term ‘structured dialogue’, the basis of European Youth Week, to mean dialogue with an end result; speaking with intent and opening up young people’s minds and getting them to debate for a resolution. It’s a pertinent comparison.
Public Achievement’s next project is working with local firemen around the Northern Irish borders as there are a high number of fatalities in the bordering counties. By working with the fire department, they’re aspiring to work with the police in local communities and break down the tension between the police and young people.
To find out more information about the award-winning project, the up-coming project and how you can volunteer with Public Achievement, visit www.publicachievement.com
OR visit their second project, ‘Where Is My Public Servant’, at: www.wimps.tv, which has more video content and facebook integration.
11 May 2016
