ELOHIM Newsletter – Spring 2010 

Better late than never but from Kellie, Torie and Olive wish you all a very Happy New Year from the ELOHIM Project Office.   May it be a very successful one.  We trust that you all had a wonderful, restful Christmas – at least the snow aided Santa and his reindeer to get to you and that you are all now looking forward with anticipation of what 2010 will hold, as we are, here at The Ely Centre – ELOHIM Project.   

Visit our funders, the Special EU Programmes Body, by clicking here.

Green Shoots – We had a Bumper Harvest with The ELOHIM Project!
The national and local news often report about green shoots of growth in the economy of our country, but that is nothing compared to the lush and bumper growth of the ELOHIM Project that took place in 2009 with over 200 new participants facilitating in our Project.  We believe 2010 will be another bumper year!!  We are so delighted with the success of the Project and the numbers that have been coming in to us and of course those of you who have been coming back season after season which has lend to the overall success!

This Newsletter is not about us in the ELOHIM Office but about you and how you have made the Project successful by participation.  We are delighted to have a very active Youth Committee on board now and that has taken some pressure off the both of us in steering the Project’s future. 

ELOHIM Youth Committee
From our “Wanted” section on the front of the Autumn 2009 Newsletter we asked for 8 – 10 participants who would like to be come forward to sit on this committee.  Well, to date we have 22 members who sit fortnightly (sometimes weekly depending on urgency of matters arising) to train in leadership and put forward their ideas and proposals for the development of the Project.  I would now like to hand you over to Daniel Wright who will tell you about what they have been getting up to. 

Ely Youth Committee 

A round up of the last few months at The Ely Centre
We kickstarted off our Autumn programme with a hectic round of marketing and recruitment and we were delighted with the excellent response we received for the following courses.

CYQ - Level I Fitness Coaching - One of our very popular courses delivered through the South West College with five young people taking up an offer of a place.  This course offers the first step in becoming a qualified Fitness Instructor and was delivered through the South West College.

Driving License Theory -  The Ely Centre has built up a good reputation for supporting young people on this difficult element of obtaining their Driving License.  This course was immensely oversubscribed that we ended up delivering 3 sessions of 5 weeks by 2 hours per week under the expert guidance of Wesley Blair. 

Internet Safety – This was the first time we delivered this one off course for parents of young people whereby they were informed how to monitor, restrict and control websites in order to protect their teenagers from unforeseen dangers while surfing the net.  Not that any of you would be viewing anything to corrupt your minds!!!!!!

CV & Interview Survival Workshops – these workshops were very successful in preparing young people for the tough world of work!!!  Eleven young people developed and honed their skills in CV writing and later sat mock interviews – learning effective interview techniques and how to survive the Dear John letters to say that you are unsuccessful which may come! 

Basic First Aid -  Five young people passed their First Aid Certificate – we are in safe hands now!!

Supported Learning – Two young people received additional support with English.

OCN Peace & Reconciliation (accredited course) – Eleven young people gained their OCN accreditation on this action packed course with young people planning and designing their own town.  Enniskillen is just not big enough for us all!!!Planning the ‘new’ town during the P&R Course 

Surf 2 Burst – Nine young people did exactly that on the internet !

Empower Me – Eight participants learned new skills in self empowerment as well as learning to make healthy decisions in diet and relationship building.   

Todd’s Leap Leadership Development – Eleven young people from the Youth Committee went for a day to Todd’s Leap in Ballygawley.  This was a fun filled day, driving blind folded in landrovers with a screaming bunch yelling directions (as if they knew how to drive), climbing wall, digger driving, indoor activities and ended with an exhilarating experience where the young people went on a high speed journey in a V8 - screams were definitely frozen in the air!!!! An interesting sign on the side of the jeep read -  extra underwear stored here!!! Fortunately, we didn’t need them that day!!!  

Residential – Corrymeela – 14 young people from the youth committee went to Ballycastle, Co Antrim on a very wind swept weekend in November.  This was a challenging weekend but indeed a memorable one with participants ghost hunting around Ballycastle graveyards!!  Youth Committee in Corrymeela.

Formula Karting – Newry – 18 members went on this action-packed night in October when adrenalin and rivalry were thoroughly tested!  

Belfast Guided Tour around Peace Walls took place on the 5 Dec on a very frosty Christmassy day when 10 young people were transported to Belfast and given an informative and interesting tour around the Interface Walls dividing Protestant communities from Roman Catholic communities (now a popular tourist destination!) Caolan signs the Peace Wall

Christmas Party – the launch of ELOHIM Youth Committee took place on Thursday, 10 December when upwards of 40 members were entertained here in the Centre to a lavish spread of food and afterwards enjoyed an impromptu concert put on by members of the Committee.  Even Kellie, Torie and Olive had rehearsed for hours on end – Strictly Come Dancing was severely challenged by our premiere of the ‘Elf Dance’.  We are currently taking bookings for autographs!!!  

What’s New for Spring 2010 – book your place NOW to avoid disappointment!
·         CYQ     Level 2 Fitness Instructing – started Tuesday 5 Jan 2010
·         Driving Licence Theory – started Thursday, 21 Jan 2010
·         Basic First Aid – started Monday, 1 Feb 2010
·         Guitar – started Thursday, 4 Feb 2010
·         Counselling Skills – starts Thursday, 18 Feb 2010
·         PADI Scuba Diving – starts March 2010
·         GCSE Maths/English (Foundation) Support – starts Thursday, 4 Mar 2010
·         GCSE Maths (Higher) Support – starts Tuesday, 13 Apr 2010
·         Website Design – starts Thursday, 15 Apr 2010
·         OCN Peace & Reconciliation – starts Thursday, 22 April 2010
·         Sign Language – Date TBC
·         Formula Indoor Go Karting – Date TBC
·         3 Night – 4 Day,  Residential – Date and venue TBC

If you are interested in any of the above courses apart from those already started please contact either Kellie, Olive or Torie asap as places are strictly limited and are filling fast!
Contact:          028 6632 0977

The ELOHIM Project gratefully acknowledges receipt of funding by the European Union PEACE III Programme managed for the Special EU Programme by Pobal/Community Relations Council Consortium which has benefited the ELOHIM Project.