A local youth project in Derry has successfully brought close to 100 young people from across Northern Ireland and the border counties to take part in a mini football tournament aimed at building positive relationships and breaking down barriers.
Lifehack, part of Enterprises, which is funded through the International Fund for Ireland’s (IFI) PYDP Programme, hosted the cross-community event at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium in Derry.
The PYDP targets at-risk young people between 16-25 years old and offers a uniquely tailored approach that helps them make better life choices as well as explore good relations, cultural identity, personal development, and employment opportunities.
Read more: NI mum describes 'up and down' journey after twins born prematurely
Brandon Lynch has been a participant on the Lifehack project for a couple of years and has accessed a wide range of opportunities. He has successfully completed a range of OCNs including Peer Mentoring, Good Relations and is currently working towards his Driving License.
He added: “It is good for us to meet people from other communities as we do not often get the chance. I have met loads of new people some from all over, areas that I would never be in. I really enjoyed the tournament and it taught me the importance of working together positively to achieve success.”
The Lifehack Project has been supported by the IFI since 2017 delivering tailored programmes for every individual. Many participants come from complex backgrounds, but the Lifehack team is transforming young lives with opportunities to create a positive future.
It has enrolled 108 young people since 2017 with many completing a range of accredited and non-accredited training courses. Over 30 young people to date are now in paid employment through the project.
IFI Chairman Paddy Harte says: “The Lifehack football tournament is a perfect example of what can be achieved when people work together.
"We are passionate about giving young people the means to change the direction of their lives and make a better contribution to their communities.
"This is an area that the IFI will continue to invest in because young people, when they are believed in and given a chance, can make a hugely positive difference to society."
Meanwhile, Richie McRory said the project had proved a huge success within the Creggan estate in Derry. He said: “The Lifehack Project is now in its sixth year. The project works primarily with young people from Creggan and the surrounding areas but has in recent times been reaching out to young people in other areas of the city including Galliagh, Lincoln Courts and Clooney.
“It helps them build positive relationships, break down barriers, increase employability and develop personal and social skills. The project also offers a range of accredited training including Essential Skills, CSR and a wide range of OCN courses. Each participant works alongside staff to develop a tailored plan best suited to meet their needs and help them achieve their personal goals.
“The cross-community football event came about on the back of a casual conversation I had with Brian Caskey from Belfast-based Limestone PYDP earlier this year.
"We agreed that it would be great to bring young people from different communities in Belfast and Derry together for a football match. From there the idea grew and I decided to open the invite up to other projects.
“The day was an enormous success, participants had a fun time, met young people from other communities and played football of an extremely high standard in state-of-the-art facilities. For me the most important thing was bringing young people back together, they have spent so much time apart due to Covid.
"All the young people who took part were a credit to themselves and their communities and we plan to build on this for next year with the hope that the event can travel around annually and be hosted in a different area of Northern Ireland and the southern border region.
"I would like to thank IFI for their ongoing support for our project as the work is critical to cement the peace that we have come to enjoy.”
READ NEXT:
-
Ulster Project kids endure 36 hour journey home to Derry from Boston after flight cancellation
- Derry's Mammy Banter star lands second book deal in time for Christmas
- Best burger in Derry as restaurant make UK's top 40 Burger Bucket List
- How people from Derry are 'doing their bit' to tackle the climate crisis through new project
To get the latest breaking news from Co Derry straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter.
