ACBC leads new learning initiative to raise the aspirations of young black people.
Unemployed black teenagers are being offered an exciting opportunity to step up their aspirations and move into employment, training or education by an innovative, motivational course to grow achievement designed by the African Caribbean Business Consortium.
The new pilot project is being led by conflict resolution specialist Raja Miah from Peacemaker, and will guide disaffected young people as they make the life changing transition from awkward adolescence to responsible adulthood.
The 13 week Rites of Passage programme is being targeted at 16–18 year olds and their parents living in Moss Side, Hulme, Whalley Range, Longsight, Fallowfield and Ardwick. The involvement, support and commitment of parents are seen as critical to the success of the programme, which will run from March through to May of this year.
Rites of Passage is a transformational process practised by traditional societies where young men and women are taken away from their families for a period of instruction to enable them to better understand the part they can play in contributing to the well-being of society using their natural talents, and working as part of a team. Rites of passage normally involve an element of endurance and physical ordeal to stretch participants.
ACBC director Marilyn Comrie firmly believes that the absence of Rites of Passage in modern British society has created a development void which is currently being filled by gang culture:
‘There is a growing tendency in our society to see young people as some alien species to be controlled and tamed and to blame parents for failing in their duty. This programme acknowledges the challenges parents face and the support they need in helping their children grow up and achieve career and business success. The Rites of Passage programme helps parents examine their own values, priorities and parenting styles and empower them to better assist young people in making the changes necessary in their lives’.
The programme is the brainchild of the African Caribbean Business Consortium, a collective of learning providers. Creativity is the foundation for helping the young people on their journey of self-discovery and self-expression. Participants will get the opportunity to sample a wide variety of creative pursuits ranging from dance, poetry, fictional writing, video, music, to fashion and art in order to help them unearth their passions, talents, abilities and instil a love of learning.
The course contains important personal development components to transform behaviours and attitudes and build personal motivation and aspirations. Participants will be equipped with a legacy of skills for effective self management that they will take with them into their new lives. And successful candidates will be offered jobs and work placements with some of Manchester's biggest employers.
The 13 week transformational process will conclude with the recognition and reincorporation of the young people back into their community through a special ‘ceremonial’ awards event to celebrate their progression.
This pioneering programme is being delivered in partnership with The Manchester College and is funded through the Learning and Skills Council. The programme is only open to young people aged16 -18 who are not currently in education, employment or training and living in the designated central Manchester districts. The College is providing support in terms of mentor training, accreditation, progression pathways and the identification of sustainable future funding sources.
Marilyn Comrie adds: ‘Parents will work in groups separate from the young people to explore strategies for supporting the young people’s learning and self development and helping them meet their development goals, as well as ways in which they as parents could support one another and be that ‘village’ that it takes to raise a child. Where necessary, parents would be assisted in identifying their own education and training needs and in accessing appropriate provision’.
Local employers who would be willing to offer work experience opportunities to the young people, or sponsor the activity weekends as part of their corporate social responsibility objectives, are being sought. The African Caribbean Business Consortium, who are based at the Empress Business Centre in Old Trafford are looking to raise a total of £20k to allow them to take participants away from the inner city, to experience a different way of living.
Young people and their families who are interested in applying can either contact their local Connexions Service, The Manchester College Admissions Team or the African Caribbean Business Consortium directly by calling 0845 331 1550 or emailing admin@acbcinternational.com