Apologies for our radio silence.
The group have been so busy, what with school studies, part-time jobs and real-life.
Reece has just started a new course in Hairdressing with a local college and Samantha has just passed her driving test! Some good news for our group :)
The group had a visitor last week in the form of a member of staff from a local Mental Health charity called Aware Defeat Depression. They are a great charity and they came in and delivered a programme called Mood Matters to our group. It was looking at famous people who had depression and other mental health issues, how we can spot the tell tale signs if anyone in our social circles or families is dealing with any health problems and then finally, where to go if we think we or someone we know might need help.
It was quite useful, but what was more useful was the discussion the group was able to have around the topic. We are really open and honest with one another and that was much more useful for all of us.
For now, thats all!
Friends Forever group :)
Thursday 1 March 2012
Tuesday 8 November 2011
The return- Sian
So, it is all over. The exhaustion and jet lag have well and truly set in. But on a positive note, I have my suitcase unpacked, laundry done and am currently munching on an imported mint Oreo ;)
The two weeks that the group spent in America were the most amazing and packed two weeks of my year! I say this over and over again, and I mean it every time but Friends Forever truly is a highlight of my working year. Usually on programmes I work on, we build up to a big trip- I might be working with young people for months before they get a chance to have an overnight or a residential or a trip away. Friends Forever is so different in that respect. We only met four times before we left for America! The group are thrown into an intense situation, away from home where they don't really know the group of people they are with. This leaves them with no other choice than to rely on one another and to seek the support of the group.
The change in the young people I could visably see was astounding in such a short period of time. The friendships and bonds that were formed are stronger than some I have seen that have spanned the duration of school years! The confidence in these young people is multiplying and growing with such touching speed. They truly are a wonderful bunch of young people to have the pleasure of working with!
Thank you to each and every person who made their trip one to remember! It is thanks to each of you that a lasting change may be seen in these amazing ten young people. A change that is only beginning and a change that will ripple through their families, peer groups and schools.
But most importantly thank you to Bryony, Chelsea, David, Eimear, John, Patrick, Reece, Ryan, Samantha and Tiarna. You grasped every opportunity with a smile and a maturity that does fit your age. You rarely complained and always thanked those you met. You are a credit to Belfast YMCA, to Friends Forever, to your families and to your communities.
Thank you x
The two weeks that the group spent in America were the most amazing and packed two weeks of my year! I say this over and over again, and I mean it every time but Friends Forever truly is a highlight of my working year. Usually on programmes I work on, we build up to a big trip- I might be working with young people for months before they get a chance to have an overnight or a residential or a trip away. Friends Forever is so different in that respect. We only met four times before we left for America! The group are thrown into an intense situation, away from home where they don't really know the group of people they are with. This leaves them with no other choice than to rely on one another and to seek the support of the group.
The change in the young people I could visably see was astounding in such a short period of time. The friendships and bonds that were formed are stronger than some I have seen that have spanned the duration of school years! The confidence in these young people is multiplying and growing with such touching speed. They truly are a wonderful bunch of young people to have the pleasure of working with!
Thank you to each and every person who made their trip one to remember! It is thanks to each of you that a lasting change may be seen in these amazing ten young people. A change that is only beginning and a change that will ripple through their families, peer groups and schools.
But most importantly thank you to Bryony, Chelsea, David, Eimear, John, Patrick, Reece, Ryan, Samantha and Tiarna. You grasped every opportunity with a smile and a maturity that does fit your age. You rarely complained and always thanked those you met. You are a credit to Belfast YMCA, to Friends Forever, to your families and to your communities.
Thank you x
Friday 4 November 2011
Dinner with the Conners - Ryan
On the last night of the trip all 13 of us went and visited the Connors.
First, we were shown to their friend's farm who ran a Rehab centre for animals. They had a home more less in their barn, which was amazing!! We got to see wild geese, swans, quails, goats and chickens that they had rescued and were looking after. It was really impressive.
After that, we went back to the Connors house and were amazed. They had a downstairs basement fully kitted out to the best of stuff. They had a big screen TV, ping pong table, gym and a steamroom. The place was awesome as they allowed us to chill out downstairs.
Suzie Conner served us a fantastic thanksgiving type dinner along with Steve (the main person in Friends Forever). Once we finished our food, we all sat together on the sofas and introduced ourselves and where we cme from and why we wanted to be on the programme. We got to hear Patrick give a brilliant speech and then we had dessert. We took some group photos and went home.
It was an amazing night and such a great way to round off an unforgettable 2 weeks!!!
It was an amazing night and such a great way to round off an unforgettable 2 weeks!!!
Ryan :)
Thursday 3 November 2011
The Gala - John
The gala went really well and it's a great way to give recognition to the people who fund the programme, it just shows the dedication of these people and how much the believe in young people, like me. I had a great table where I had conversations about many random topics, I thought the food was great and I got a good response to my speech.
Other than my speech, the highlight of the night was definitely having a dance off with my group and fist-pumping as everyone left. What a wonderful night!
Portsmouth Rotary - Tiarna
One afternoon we attended Portsmouth Rotary meeting for lunch. The rotary is a club of people who fund different programmes and volunteer in their community. The people of the rotary were so welcoming and seemed to be very interested in our lives.
Samantha and I paired up to sit at a table together at the rotary and ate lunch –which was delicious- with members of the rotary who seemed to be very interested in our background and where we came from. They asked a lot of questions about our culture and the conflict in the North of Ireland and we, in turn, asked them questions about their lives in America.
We then played a really fun game which was in the style of a game show quiz hosted by Neill, the president of Friends Forever, where we were asked to answer different questions about ourselves.
After everyone had eaten, Eimear, Chelsea and I, gave speeches to the rotary about what our lives had been like growing up in Northern Ireland and how we felt about the conflict. Having to write a speech and then deliver it to a room full of adults wasn’t the easiest thing to do but it was something which helped me to gain a new perspective on the segregation in The North of Ireland, the idea of explaining things as simple as the division between Catholics and Protestants was at first a strange concept to me as it was something I had grew up with. It did however force me to think more about the society I had grown up in and helped me realise the impact it had on my life.
Overall, going to the Portsmouth rotary turned out to be a really good experience, we were welcomed by all the members and all of our speeches were received very well. It gave us the chance to talk about our lives at home and also learn a bit about American culture.
Tiarna (:
Samantha and I paired up to sit at a table together at the rotary and ate lunch –which was delicious- with members of the rotary who seemed to be very interested in our background and where we came from. They asked a lot of questions about our culture and the conflict in the North of Ireland and we, in turn, asked them questions about their lives in America.
We then played a really fun game which was in the style of a game show quiz hosted by Neill, the president of Friends Forever, where we were asked to answer different questions about ourselves.
After everyone had eaten, Eimear, Chelsea and I, gave speeches to the rotary about what our lives had been like growing up in Northern Ireland and how we felt about the conflict. Having to write a speech and then deliver it to a room full of adults wasn’t the easiest thing to do but it was something which helped me to gain a new perspective on the segregation in The North of Ireland, the idea of explaining things as simple as the division between Catholics and Protestants was at first a strange concept to me as it was something I had grew up with. It did however force me to think more about the society I had grown up in and helped me realise the impact it had on my life.
Overall, going to the Portsmouth rotary turned out to be a really good experience, we were welcomed by all the members and all of our speeches were received very well. It gave us the chance to talk about our lives at home and also learn a bit about American culture.
Tiarna (:
Portsmouth Rotary Club- Chelsea
On Thursday 3rd of November the Belfast YMCA Friends Forever group visited hampton rotary club. When we got there we were warmly welcomed by every member that taken part in making Friends Forever what it has become today after 25years of hard work.
We had some lunch and a lovely chat with a good few members which opened our minds to what really happens in our lives for example- as teenagers dont need to fight over religion as everybody is the same but with different opions in life.
Me (Chelsea), Tiarna Adams and Eimear Downey then gave a speech to the Rotary about our perspective of living in Northern Ireland and the way that we live as a Protestant or Catholic. It was a lovely day as everyone listened to what we had to say and they also asked questions about what they thought of Northern Ireland and the sectarianism that is still visible. I want to say a great big thanks to Portsmouth rotary for inviting us over to join them and taking their time to help Friends Forever enjoy their 2week stay. Thanks again.
Chelsea Spence
We had some lunch and a lovely chat with a good few members which opened our minds to what really happens in our lives for example- as teenagers dont need to fight over religion as everybody is the same but with different opions in life.
Me (Chelsea), Tiarna Adams and Eimear Downey then gave a speech to the Rotary about our perspective of living in Northern Ireland and the way that we live as a Protestant or Catholic. It was a lovely day as everyone listened to what we had to say and they also asked questions about what they thought of Northern Ireland and the sectarianism that is still visible. I want to say a great big thanks to Portsmouth rotary for inviting us over to join them and taking their time to help Friends Forever enjoy their 2week stay. Thanks again.
Chelsea Spence
Wednesday 2 November 2011
Our day in Boston - Tiarna
Our day in Boston was one of my favourite days in the USA. We got to experience a lot of American culture and learn a bit about American history. It was also one of the most relaxed days where we were able to hang out together and have fun. We got to spend time with one of the really cool rotary members named Craig.
We followed the red freedom trail around the centre of Boston which told the story of some of Boston’s history. We then visited the holocaust memorial; 6 glass towers built in memory of the 6 million Jewish people killed in the Second World War. This one of the more intense parts of the day where we got a real sense of history.
We then went to eat in a ‘food court’ in Boston which had every kind of food imaginable, from Thai to Ice cream parlours, it was one of the most huge food places I had ever seen and the food was delicious. We then did a bit of shopping and went and got coffee and chill out in the beautiful park in Boston before we done some more sightseeing. It was a tiring but really enjoyable day and the whole group had so much fun
Tiarna (:
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