SPANISH TRIP HELPS YOUNG LEARN MORE ABOUT TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRIES
Spanish trip helps young learn more about tourism and hospitality industries
TWENTY-FOUR young people from Donegal and West Tyrone have been presented with certificates in recognition of their successful completion of a cross-border training and work experience programme earlier this year.
The trainees, who have recently returned from Spain where they spent 12 weeks in work experience placements within the tourism and hospitality sector, were presented with their certificates by the chairman of the International Fund for Ireland, Mr. William McCarter.
The initiative, which was devised to contribute to the redevelopment of these communities in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing, was established and managed by the Tyrone Donegal Partnership, and is part of the Wider Horizons Programme, supported by the International Fund for Ireland.
By helping young unemployed people to acquire practical and theoretical skills relating to the tourism industry, the programme aimed to enhance the future employment potential of the participants in this growing market sector.
Participants aged between 18 and 24 years of age, and drawn from unionist and nationalist backgrounds in Donegal and West Tyrone, were selected to take part in the programme, which took place over a 20-week period.
An eight-week training programme in Ireland was followed by the 12-week stay in Madrid, where students were placed in jobs broadly matching their individual career aspirations.
The advance training programme focussed on subjects such as personal development, communication, motivation and team building, as well as providing Spanish language tuition and courses specially relating to tourism and hospitality.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony Mr. McCarter said: "each of the participants had demonstrated a strong sense of maturity and an ability to succeed in the tourism and hospitality industry by showing a common enthusiasm for the programme and the opportunities that it offers.
"Tourism represents one of the fastest growing industries throughout the island of Ireland and it is hugely encouraging to see skills being matched to the jobs available", he said.
Added Mr. McCarter: "The underlying aspiration of this project was to foster mutual understanding between participants drawn from different religious and political traditions and I congratulate all of the participants here today for the part they played in achieving this".
The programme, in the words of Tyrone Donegal Partnership chairman, John McKinney: "Could never have worked without the dedicated teamwork of all concerned.
"The project, through its own specific aims and objectives, helped young unemployed people get back into the working environment, as well as helping them understand and respect each others cultural differences".
The Wider Horizons Programme, run by the International Fund for Ireland, is designed to enhance the employment opportunities for young people through training, work experience and personal development.
The programme also aims to establish mutual understanding and reconciliation between young people of both traditions in the North and between North and South.
The Programme is targeted at young, unemployed people between 16 and 28 years of age, and priority is given to those in the most disadvantaged areas of Northern Ireland and in the southern border counties.
To date, the International Fund for Ireland has committed over �40 million to the Wider Horizons Programme, enabling some 9,500 young people to take part in a range of training and development programmes supported by it.
TWENTY-FOUR young people from Donegal and West Tyrone have been presented with certificates in recognition of their successful completion of a cross-border training and work experience programme earlier this year.
The trainees, who have recently returned from Spain where they spent 12 weeks in work experience placements within the tourism and hospitality sector, were presented with their certificates by the chairman of the International Fund for Ireland, Mr. William McCarter.
The initiative, which was devised to contribute to the redevelopment of these communities in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing, was established and managed by the Tyrone Donegal Partnership, and is part of the Wider Horizons Programme, supported by the International Fund for Ireland.
By helping young unemployed people to acquire practical and theoretical skills relating to the tourism industry, the programme aimed to enhance the future employment potential of the participants in this growing market sector.
Participants aged between 18 and 24 years of age, and drawn from unionist and nationalist backgrounds in Donegal and West Tyrone, were selected to take part in the programme, which took place over a 20-week period.
An eight-week training programme in Ireland was followed by the 12-week stay in Madrid, where students were placed in jobs broadly matching their individual career aspirations.
The advance training programme focussed on subjects such as personal development, communication, motivation and team building, as well as providing Spanish language tuition and courses specially relating to tourism and hospitality.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony Mr. McCarter said: "each of the participants had demonstrated a strong sense of maturity and an ability to succeed in the tourism and hospitality industry by showing a common enthusiasm for the programme and the opportunities that it offers.
"Tourism represents one of the fastest growing industries throughout the island of Ireland and it is hugely encouraging to see skills being matched to the jobs available", he said.
Added Mr. McCarter: "The underlying aspiration of this project was to foster mutual understanding between participants drawn from different religious and political traditions and I congratulate all of the participants here today for the part they played in achieving this".
The programme, in the words of Tyrone Donegal Partnership chairman, John McKinney: "Could never have worked without the dedicated teamwork of all concerned.
"The project, through its own specific aims and objectives, helped young unemployed people get back into the working environment, as well as helping them understand and respect each others cultural differences".
The Wider Horizons Programme, run by the International Fund for Ireland, is designed to enhance the employment opportunities for young people through training, work experience and personal development.
The programme also aims to establish mutual understanding and reconciliation between young people of both traditions in the North and between North and South.
The Programme is targeted at young, unemployed people between 16 and 28 years of age, and priority is given to those in the most disadvantaged areas of Northern Ireland and in the southern border counties.
To date, the International Fund for Ireland has committed over �40 million to the Wider Horizons Programme, enabling some 9,500 young people to take part in a range of training and development programmes supported by it.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0624
Published Date: 12-Aug-99
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.