200 graduate from youth leadership programme
The Meitheal Youth Leadership Programme, run by Scala, supports young people and aims to train and empower students to identify needs in their school and to use their own initiative and talents to respond to these needs in a practical way.
Scala engages with about 3,000 young people each year on school retreats and one-day mentor training programmes.
The training programme takes place at the end of transition year and when they return to school as fifth-year students, their main objective is to improve the quality of school life for their fellow students. Meitheal is about young people doing their best, caring for each other and the students with whom they work.
The programme instils that everyone has different talents and abilities which they can use for the benefit of others. Pa Cotter, a leadership development officer, said: “The Meitheal programme brings people together. Students come from a variety of schools throughout Cork and the programme gives these kids the opportunity to make friends with people from beyond their usual school circles.
“Everyone is on an equal footing, working together as part of a team; it breaks down any social divide and creates lifelong friendships through shared experiences.”
Cork businessman Ger O’Mahony, chairman of the Scala Advisory Board, said: “I have seen first-hand the positive impact the programme has on the students as my own children have participated in the programme. It gives kids a real awareness of their environment and how they can make positive changes by working together. It also gives participants a greater confidence to do things perhaps out of their comfort zone, like public speaking, problem-solving and working as part of a team — all skills that will be invaluable to them in their adult lives.”
Situated on a beautiful two-acre Castle Road site in Blackrock, Scala offers modern and fully equipped facilities including a conference centre to seat 160 people.
For further information, visit www.scala.ie.
