NINE young Limerick people last week completed the first stage of their “educational journey” with Northside Youthreach after graduating from its first Leaving Cert Applied (LCA) programme.
Family and friends joined graduates at the Strand Hotel to celebrate this inaugural LCA graduation with the successful students being presented with their graduation certificates.
Coordinator of Northside Youthreach, Damien O’Connell, congratulated the LCA class of 2016 on their achievements and wished them every success for the future.
“Each of these nine young women and men have been on an educational journey over the past number of years with us. We have students who have completed full QQI Level 3 certificates, some have completed a full Junior Certificate with us and all nine will have a full Leaving Certificate by June 16,” Mr O’Connell explained.
“We wanted to develop a programme with high standards of teaching and learning, high expectations for every student that walks through our door at Watch House Cross and, most importantly, a centre to which every parent/guardian can send their child, knowing that they will feel safe and will be treated fairly and respectfully. I hope that we have achieved some of these objectives,” he added.
“Having a Leaving Cert and a good CV that has been built over the past few years means that there are more opportunities out there for these young graduates”, Mr O’Connell explained.
“There are further education and training options along with employment opportunities in Limerick City and the surrounding areas. My challenge to them as a group is to take these opportunities and go out and build a positive future for themselves.
“Everyone knows that most education comes from home. I want to thank all of the staff of Northside Youthreach for their continued professionalism and hard work, week in week out. I wish to thank Martin Cournane for helping us to build the programme from scratch and supporting us throughout the process,” he concluded.
by Alan Jacques