Young volunteers ‘Step Up’ to leadership in Project 6:8
For the past 8 summers, young people from JIMS Youth Centre in Kilkeel have been making a positive impact on the community through Project 6:8.
This year 15 volunteers aged 15–25 have been meeting as a team since April and now they’re taking the lead in a week of activities, games, gardening and trips organised for the children of Hillside Drive.
JIMS Youth Support Worker, Megan McIlveen, who is overseeing the project explains:
“Our volunteers are part of the Step Up programme at JIMS which is our heart to see young people grow in confidence and leadership skills. It’s very much about them taking the lead so they’re organising and delivering Project 6:8 this year.”
As a bonus, Step Up also feeds into the Millenium Volunteer programme which acknowledges and celebrates the volunteerism of those under the age of 25.
Between 10 and 12 each morning, the team have organised crafts and games and every afternoon there’s a trip – Dublin Zoo on the day we visited. Some of the leaders accompany the kids and the others do some gardening for householders in the area.
The Hillside Drive area is a mixed community and includes foreign nationals who have settled in the town.
“This year a lot of the mums have taken part which is really good, so a lot of relationships have been built with parents which is really good to see,” says Megan.
“On Saturdays we used to host a fun day but now the community does it themselves so we come up and support and do the face painting for them. It’s been great to partner with them this summer.”
JIMS is a cross–community drop in centre for young people run by Kilkeel Parish Bridge Association Limited (KPBAL). The Project 6:8 team stay at the centre for the week and share devotions before the morning programme. The project gets its name from the Bible verse Micah 6:8.