JustUs Programme Gets Unanimous Thumbs Up!
A very positive first outing for the JustUs Programme's new media resources at GMT's first Training The Trainer Workshop for teachers & youth workers.
The first JustUs Training The Trainer Workshop took place in the Millennium Forum, Derry on 11th and 12th December 2014. It was an opportunity for youth workers and teachers to get a preview of the media resources and share approaches to how the issues opened up by the film resources might be facilitated.
It was also an opportunity to get a practical demonstration from BT48, our website designers, on how the private aspect of the site, restricted to young people participating in the programme, brings a new media creative edge to the whole project. This will enable participants to themselves produce new media resources to explore the programmes various subject areas.
Feedback was unanimously positive. There was a shared sense that the programme brings a fresh new approach to a key area of youth work and education that is currently not being adequately engaged with.
Below are two feedbacks on the programme typical of the group as a whole.
A Senior Youth Worker
With regard to the overall approach taken in the workshop how appropriate is it for dealing with the conflict, its legacy and the other tension-laced identity issues young people encounter growing up here within a youth work setting?
“Good effective and age appropriate tools have been lacking in schools and youth work provision when dealing with the above issues. This is a good tool for engaging, empowering, encouraging and enabling young people to tackle these issues in an interesting and innovative way. Ground breaking! “
Did you find the film content useful for bringing contested issues into focus?
“This will serve as a very effective tool in engaging young people. It is attractive, colourful and gripping. Very thought provoking and challenging. Young people who have learning difficulties or deemed to be underachievers or non-achievers can grasp the content. “
A Citizenship Teacher
With regard to the overall approach taken in the workshop how appropriate is it for dealing with the conflict, its legacy and the other tension-laced identity issues young people encounter growing up here within a school setting?
“I feel it is very exciting, as for the large part, the programme invites pupil-led discussion. The views/opinions come from young people of this generation, and in this respect it will have merit. The opinions/experiences are relevant for the current generation.”
Did you find the film content useful for bringing contested issues into focus?
“I thought the film content was very thought-provoking. The opinions of the young people at the time of recording were real and representative of that generation as a whole. However, they allow for comment and interpretation, and can encourage the viewers to question their own opinions in light of what they are hearing.
The contentious and often taboo subjects such as conflict, sexuality and racism have for a long time been silenced, which has in turn prevented our young people from speaking openly about the issues which affect them on a daily basis.
What I found most encouraging, is the fact that the programme does not seek to solve the problems surrounding these issues, but rather invites our young people to discuss them openly.
The films include case studies of those who have direct experience in the areas investigated, and others who have no direct links to the areas investigated. This allows for a broad cross-section of viewpoints.”
Did you think that the issues raised in this training workshop session were framed and dealt with appropriately?
“I felt that the increased intensity and momentum of the clips/opinions were very effective, as it was clear how confusing these issues are for our young people to come to terms with. In particular, I found the section on sexuality very interesting, as it began with views/opinions of homosexuality, which our young people can relate to.
The section ends with a few case studies of young people who struggle with their sexual identity, and the problems that has caused amongst their peers and families. I am hopeful that this provides a forum for discussion on how words/actions have a detrimental impact on mental health.”