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Volunteers unveil new signs in
St Johnston
19.11.13
A St Johnston housing
estate has new entrance signs and a number of young
people have new skills thanks to a volunteering
initiative in the area.
Local residents and community representatives
gathered last Friday for the unveiling of two
natural stone wall signs at Ard Baithin.
The walls were built as part of a 12-week
Volunteering in the Community initiative aimed at
providing training and activities for out-of-work
young people aged 18-25.
It was administered by Donegal Local Development
Company (DLDC) and funded by the International Fund
for Ireland. |
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Mary Devlin, International Fund for
Ireland, with volunteers Brian Coll, Gill Clarke,
Damien Crossan and Shane Curran, volunteer mentor
and youth worker (second from left) at the unveiling
of the new sign at Ard Baithin, St. Johnston on
November 15, 2013. |
Seven similar courses
have been run in Raphoe, St. Johnston, Lifford,
Castlefinn, Stranorlar, Ballyshannon and Pettigo in
the last two years with almost 60 young people have
completed the 12 week programmes. Approximately
another 170 are completing certain aspects of the
training.
DLDC chief executive Dr Caoimhin MacAoidh said the
challenges of community development in border
villages were "considerable". This IFI-funded
training and personal development opportunity
provided a means for young people to consider
themselves as well as their role and positive
contribution to their local community. They have
distinguished themselves and their families as a
result of their activities and personal investment
in community."
Mary Devlin of the International Fund for Ireland
said the fund was committed to the "long-term task
of breaking down traditional barriers and helping
build positive relations and contact between the two
main communities on the island of Ireland".
"We are proud to be associated with Donegal Local
Development and the tremendous work they have
carried out over the past two years as part of the
Volunteering in the Community initiative, which has
been tremendously successful in helping to promote
greater cross-community links and indeed friendships
between participants," she said. |
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