Area

In 1991, Youth Initiatives (YI) began its work in Poleglass, West Belfast.

The sector of the population continuing to be adversely affected by the conflict...

Staff and Volunteers

From two staff and gradually building up its base of volunteers and funding, YI has expanded to a staff of 12.

Volunteer Project Leadership Team (aged 16 – 25) of 30 people...

Practical teachings and results

A main focus of YI in all areas of our work is to pass on life skills and help young people explore and develop personal values and beliefs to apply across a broad spectrum of experience. Our methodology for this is relational and programme youth work and a project team model which develops young people’s initiative, ownership, responsibility and leadership.

YI’s hallmark is the quality of young leaders that graduate from its programmes. Notable qualities of awakened personal faith, team building skills, personal initiative, and active service to others mark these young people. They know how to make a difference in the situations they are in, and they are ready to make a contribution to their own communities. They are experienced in cross-community co-operation. Some have taken on significant leadership roles among their peers both locally and internationally.