NEW YOUTH PROJECT FOR VSB
YBMET?... Because it is important that your voice is heard!!
A NEW Project for young people from minority ethnic communities of Belfast has come to Young Citizens in Action. A programme that will, for the first time, be exclusively for young people from minority ethnic communities of the City.
What is it?!!
The YBMET Project - Young people from the Black, Minority Ethnic and Travellers Communities, is a 20 week programme (meeting once a week) of training and research for young people by young people in Belfast city.
Maybe you have already heard about the project, were you in Belfast last summer? Maybe you saw our YBMET promotional stand in one of the cinemas in Belfast City. For four weeks the stand was in each of the main cinemas looking to talk with young people from the Black, Minority Ethnic and Travellers Communities. We did speak to young people from these communities who had never been involved in youth programmes or research before. Young people showed us which part of the world they were from and where they are now living in the City - This project is looks at these communities living in the City of Belfast.
Who is it for?!!
If you are from one of the minority ethnic communities of the city and have been living in the Belfast for at least three years, the project is for you.
We are looking for people who are between the ages of 16-25 years who are looking to meet up and research with young people from across the City. The programme of research will be undertaken by and with young people form minority communities. We are looking for twenty young people to engage in a programme that celebrates the importance of what young people are saying about living in Belfast city and their aspirations for a multi-cultural City.....as the researcher you can pick the topic and ask the questions!!!!
Training in Community Research skills:
Training in community research skills will be included in the programme and certificates will be presented to all participants who complete the one week training - don t worry if you have never done this before, the training is for all people to try and enjoy. You won t believe how enjoyable it will be !
As researchers you will be taught new skills for undertaking community research; training on computers, interviewing people, observation skills, learning to communicate through drawing, music or arts. You will be a community researcher finding out answers to questions that young people from minority ethnic communities are asking. You will work with young people from your community and from other communities of the City, recording their views and their stories on issues that are important to them as a citizen of the City. You will present your research findings to influential people on what are the issues and concerns that affect your community on what is it like living in Belfast city today.
What will the project try to achieve?
The YBMET Project is a new programme believing that young people can shape their own development and their learning by encouraging them to question the importance of meeting and researching together. We believe that in shaping this development it is important to undertaking a programme of youth-to-youth research with and by young people, and present this research to policy makers and practitioners to improve young services and the services to the minority ethnic communities of the City and their engagement in a multi-cultural City.
The programme will.
- Engage young people (16-25years) in a multi-cultural programme for the minority ethnic communities of Belfast.
- Provide training in social research skills to undertake youth -to- youth research.
- Provide support and resources to young people undertaking research in their communities.
- Provide opportunities to present information to community organisations, statutory bodies and policy makers.
- Provide certification for accomplishment of research training and completion of programme.
We would be delighted to here form you, either to be involved in the project or to tell us your views on what you as a young person have to say.
Meetings for research groups (these have not started yet so all you have to do is send us your name and contact details and we ll arrange a meeting) can be organised at the Citizenship Centre, at Shaftesbury Square or can be arranged at local venues in your own community. We also have a promotion stand in the Citizenship Centre or to find out more about the project contact Michael or George at the Citizenship Centre at 028 90 200850. We can also send you information by email you wish to send a mail to george@vsb.org.uk
