South West College recently hosted a Celebration of Success for the Youthscape+ Cohorts 1 and 2, a pioneering Cross-Border Good Relations Programme supported by PEACEPLUS and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). This initiative is dedicated to creating positive relationships among young people across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The Youthscape+ project centres around core themes of Personal Development, Good Relations, and Citizenship, which are crucial for creating an inclusive and progressive society. Participants have had the opportunity to become Peace Apprentices and join The Youthscape Youth Forum, empowering them to improve their life circumstances and become influencers in their communities.
Through a comprehensive range of initiatives, the Cross-Border Good Relations Programme has enhanced the employability prospects of up to 1,200 marginalized young people. With structured support and practical experiences, participants have developed their personal development, good relations, active citizenship, and employability skills, and have been fully supported in progressing into education, training, and employment.
The Celebration of Success featured a display of arts created by some of the young people, a piano recital, and performances of raps by participants. Additionally, footage showcasing the broad range of activities, cultural host days, and social impact activities the young people have taken part in over the last 11 months was shown.