No 1 Summer 2003 CENTREPOINT Newsletter of the Presentation Centre for Policy and Systemic Change 37- 39 Terenure Road West, Dublin 6W. Tel: 01 492 7097 Fax: 01 492 6423 Web: www.presentation.ie Email: presirl@iol.ie New Centre to promote Social Inclusion and Learning Innovation Welcome Welcome to the first edition of Centrepoint , the newsletter of the Presentation Centre for Policy and Systemic Change. The Centre was set up by the three Presentation Provincial Leadership Teams to develop a strategic plan for Presentation involvement in ministry in contemporary Ireland. Following extensive consultations the plan, Towards a New and Radical Agenda, was launched in January 2002 and is now in its implementation phase. The strategic plan commits us to: • Promote education for social transformation; • Develop innovative responses to unmet needs in society; • Influence public policy and promote systemic change; • Promote human rights and take action on international development issues. It is important that the membership of the Congregation, our colleagues, associates and co- The Presentation Centre is situated in St. Joseph’s Terenure workers in community work, in our schools and in the many other ministries, are kept informed of Five New Pilot Learning Initiatives progress on the implementation of the strategic plan. So we are pleased to present this first edition By David Rose of our new newsletter. We hope it will serve not only to keep people informed, but also open up Five new pilot initiatives, that aim to promote new approaches to debate and discussion on the issues that have been learning, are being established by the Presentation Centre. Working in identified as central to our work: social inclusion, partnership with four community based organisations and one school, community empowerment, new educational the Centre hopes that these pilots will target unmet needs and experiences, human rights, care for the earth and a contribute to influencing policy on education. spirituality of justice. An area of concern to all of us, whatever our work, The pilots are being established under aim 1 of the Presentation is the difficulty of reaching out to those who are Strategic Plan 2002 - 2006: Towards a New and Radical Agenda . The most oppressed. This edition of the newsletter plan aims to promote a new vision, a new understanding and a new focuses on the importance of outreach - working to practice of education in the adult and community or informal education increase the participation of those who would not normally avail of educational opportunities. sector as well as within the formal school sector. In seeking to contribute to this vision, aim 1 of the strategic plan calls for the setting This edition also carries a tribute to the late Sr up of a small number of pilot trailblazing initiatives. Teresa McCormack, who chaired the Presentation Centre management committee from its inception. Promote and pilot alternative approaches to education through She was the key driving force in the establishment developing new educational experiences to benefit all young people of the Centre and was instrumental in drafting the strategic plan. For her wisdom and vision, and adults, but particularly those who are educationally we are indebted. She reminded us that: disadvantaged. The future of humanity lies in the The pilots are the result of a Call for Proposals made last year to hands of those who are strong Presentation Sisters, especially to those involved in community enough to give future education and community development work, and individuals and generations reasons for living and hoping. groups who wished to bring forward ideas on promoting a new educational paradigm. Twenty-eight proposals were received from - Gaudium et Spes no 31. around the country. Those chosen as pilots were deemed to meet most Sr Pius McHugh, closely the selection criteria. Later last year, a separate Call for Chairperson Proposals was made to Presentation primary and secondary schools, with nine proposals received and one being selected for development.
Learning Innovation work with young people to encourage analysis and Pilot initiatives are being established in the following areas: critique of social situations to bring about social action ● Ballingarry, Co Tipperary. Learning for Fun through for change. The focus will be on the political dimension Fun Learning is being developed in partnership with the of education with participants challenged to identify a Ballingarry Millennium Family Resource Centre. This pressing local need and with support to act through initiative will focus on how learning can be fun by lobbying and advocacy to bring about change. working with families to provide intergenerational learning opportunities in a community based setting. Liz ● North Presentation Secondary School, Farranree, Cummins is the newly appointed co-ordinator and she Cork. This pilot aims to develop flexible systems for will work closely with Sr Patricia Wall and Clare lifelong learning that are driven by the needs of Cashman, the family centre manager. interested adults and older teenagers. It will increase the participation of older teenagers who are likely to drop ● Mayfield Residential Park, Clondalkin, Dublin. out of school and encourage re-entry of young adults to Mayfield Action Response for Social Transformation is learning through provision of part-time modular options being co-ordinated jointly by Sr Kathleen Barratt and in Junior and Leaving Certificate courses. The pilot will Liam Kilbride, the Presentation education development also develop the concept of a “learning neighbourhood” officer for the SouthEast. Mayfield is a small community through a network of learning services providing routes being accommodated by the local authority in a caravan back to education. park. The pilot will use a “Multiple Intelligences” approach, to tackle educational disadvantage among It is hoped that these pilots will provide models of best children, young people and adults. practice that, with support, can influence policy on education and so lead to change in the social and ● Churchfield, Gurranabraher, Cork City. This initiative educational arenas. Initially, the main beneficiaries of the is being developed with the Before 5 Childcare and pilots would be individuals and communities in the local Family Centre. Sr Renee Breslin is the co-ordinator. The area, but ultimately, the whole system could benefit. pilot aims to deepen appreciation of education for These pilots have received funding for programme costs and children and parents through providing opportunities in in some instances for the employment of a co-ordinator. story-telling, local history, the arts and ecology. The They are receiving support in the form of assistance with the initiative will link with the Presentation Ecology Centre design of the initiative; research back-up, on-going and Organic Farm in Ballygriffin, Mallow. monitoring and review to learn lessons for best practice. We hope to profile these pilots in coming issues of this ● Drogheda Youth Development Centre. At time of newsletter. going to press, this pilot was being finalised. It aims to Barriers to Participation in Education and Training Programmes CONTEXTUAL: labour market conditions, policies on educational disadvantage, social and peer influence. INSTITUTIONAL: the image, ethos, administration and practices of the service providers, childcare provision, allowances. INFORMATIONAL: information about courses and how it is provided, and impact of course on income and social welfare entitlements. SITUATIONAL: time, family commitments, costs of participation. DISPOSITIONAL: personal disposition, age, gender, initial education levels, attitudes, motivation. Source: WRC Social and Economic Consultants, 1999, A Study of the Factors Influencing the participation of Older Unemployed Adults in Education and Training Programmes. Page 2
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