Hola mis queridos amigos, los proyectos para ayudar a la gente son siempre maravillosos así que hoy vamos a conocer un poco más sobre uno de ellos "El Proyecto Archway Londres". Espero que os guste la información y que sea interesante para vosotros también.
*Info: from Speak Up magazine.
*Photos: young_greenwich.org.uk / archwayproject.org / secure.thebiggive.org.uk
*Special thanks to Alison Harper and Glyn Farrow of the Archway Project for their help in writing this article.
THE ARCHWAY PROJECT / HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE.
Some children may have learning difficulties like dyslexia or ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Other kids come from deprived backgrounds and have more serious family problems. All of these factors often lead to poor performance at school. One brilliant solution to these problems comes in the form of the Archway Project, in Thamesmead in south east London, one of the poorest areas of London, where around sixty per cent of kids live in social housing. The Archway Project was set up there in 1982 to help kids from age eleven upwards, who for one reason or another, had fallen through the school system.
The Archway Project in London offers a range of educational workshops and recreational activities to young people who are disadvantaged or have difficulties at school. Girls and boys can take a course in motorcycle mechanics and go on an off-road riding trip.
THE MISSION
The Project's mission was to minimise social exclusion, empower young people at risk and provide meaningful qualifications. Their approach was very simple: they asked young people involved in anti-social behaviour what they would like to do.
The answer was off-road motorcycling. Members of the team knew that the young people coming to the Archway centre had little self-esteem and few aspirations. They would never have had the confidence to study for a diploma in engineering. So the organisers developed a bespoke accredited course in motorcycle mechanics, and, with a real touch of genius, they included off-road riding trips in the summer as an incentive. When offered the chance to fix bikes and go off-road biking, participants readily accepted.
LEARNING SKILLS
Although the participants did badly at school, once they join the Archway Project they start achieving. According to the team who work there, this is because they are given real responsibility as they have to handle tools such as welding equipment. They really get their hands dirty and learn skills that could lead to paid employment.
A PERFECT FIT
The first thing you notice when you walk through the front door is the atmosphere. Downstairs there is a large, bright workshop holding many motorbikes lined up in neat rows, tools and equipment and all the other bits and pieces that you would find in any garage across the country.
People are learning from their tutors by actually doing repairs and servicing the very bikes that they will ride off-road. They gain a specialist work-related qualification in mechanics. Very often they surprise themselves by what they have achieved and are inspired to learn more.
The Archway Project provides similar help to young people with mental and physical disabilities. They realised, for example, that the unique skills and thinking modes of people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder are perfectly suited to a career in computer programming. With this in mind they developed a computer programming course for children with ASD in May 2014, with spectacular results.
Teamwork is an essential ingredient, as is a focus on healthy eating. The kids come in and start cooking their own food from scratch with fresh ingredients. They work together and eat what they have prepared themselves. This gives them a healthy diet, as well as a sense of achievement.
As well as servicing and riding motorbikes and IT (informática), the Project also offers recreational courses such as mountain.biking, fishing, gardening and canoeing -the perfect ingredients for inspiring young people to do well.
For more info: www.archwayproject.org
VOCABULARY OF THE TEXT
-DEPRIVED BACKGROUND: entornos desfavorecidos.
-SOCIAL HOUSING: viviendas sociales / de protección oficial.
-BESPOKE ACCREDITED COURSE: curso oficial específico.
-OFF-ROAD RIDING TRIPS: excursiones de motocross.
-FIX: arreglar.
-WELDING: soldar.
-FROM SCRATCH: desde cero.
-IT: informática (INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES)
GOOD IDEAS ARE ALWAYS WELL RECEIVED AND ACCEPTED!
SEE YOU MY FRIENDS!!!
