Homelessness and the meaning of a home were top of the agenda for a group of Inishowen teenagers during a recent workshop series by ChangeMakers Donegal.
The workshop series, which took place at Donegal ETB’s Youthreach Centre in Buncrana, was delivered by ChangeMakers and explored the local and global dimensions of homelessness through art.
The young people explored the reasons for homelessness and discussed what issues need to be addressed both locally and globally to allow for change.
Eve Li, Facilitator with ChangeMakers Donegal, who carried out the three workshops with the young people at the Youthreach base in Lisfannon, said she was really impressed by the response she had from the young people.
“They were very informed about homelessness, and all are aware of or know people who are going through it themselves,” said Eve.
“Homelessness in large cities is more visual and obvious, but the young people identified other local issues such as mica, war and poverty as reasons for homelessness. They are very aware that housing is a massive problem in Ireland.
“For us, it was about getting the young people to understand the different types of homelessness – such as those in emergency accommodation, people living in direct provision and those who are ‘couch surfing’ with friends,” added Myra McAuliffe, Coordinator of ChangeMakers at IDP.
‘Empathetic’ Young People
Youthreach co-ordinator for Inishowen Jayne O’Donnell said it has been great to see how empathetic the young people have been throughout their work on the art workshops.
“When I pulled in this morning the young people were standing at the gates holding their cardboard signs with different slogans and sayings about homelessness,” explained Jayne.
“It has been lovely to see how empathetic they have been. Homelessness is a massive issue, and it is one that is right here on our doorsteps – we have 14 Ukrainian students, who have accommodation, but I’m sure they know a lot of people who have been displaced.
“Through this project, the young people have gained a greater knowledge of homelessness and the way Eve has facilitated it and guided them has been great. She let them take the lead – she didn’t lecture them, and this made the exercises and the work much more realistic for them,” added Jayne.
Jayne, who reached out to ChangeMakers Donegal, expressed how pleased she was to collaborate with ChangeMakers, especially as Donegal ETB is a long-term partner and steering group member of ChangeMakers, along with Trocaire, Self-Help Africa and Inishowen Development Partnership.
She said Youthreach aims to build on the existing work with ChangeMakers to continue educating young adults to think critically and to understand the connections between local and global issues.
“It has been great for us to have access to the ChangeMakers team – they provide a different aspect for the students and provide the hands-on education which they need. We hope to be able to continue this collaboration in the future.”
As part of the workshops the young people worked together to build cardboard shelters, and they also explored how art can be used as a political action to make change by examining the global art from a UNICEF campaign.
Youthreach is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.
