Social activist and six-time All-Ireland winner Philly McMahon joined Coca-Cola HBC recently for the launch of #YouthEmpowered 2019. The Youth Empowered programme developed by Coca‑Cola HBC is designed to give young people access to the life and business skills they need to transition into work. The programme aims to improve employment prospects through employability workshop-based training, online content and mentoring support. Over the last two years, 1,300 young people received free training in financial literacy, project management and sales and business planning. Now in its third year, #YouthEmpowered aims to engage a further 1,000 young people this year.
Known for his sporting prowess on the pitch, #YouthEmpowered ambassador, Philly McMahon is also a hugely successful young businessman off the field as the owner of BeDo7 fitness club group. Through his own experiences and successes, he has become a strong advocate for the importance of social change and the rehabilitation of young people struggling to find their way.
Speaking at the launch of the 2019 #YouthEmpowered campaign, McMahon said:
“I’m delighted to be supporting the Youth Empowered programme and to be encouraging young people back to education and employment.
“The pursuit of continuous learning is not a given for everyone. For some it’s circumstantial, but for others it’s a lack of confidence, a lack of belief in their own ability. A free training and mentorship programme like this could really make a difference to school-leavers and job-seekers all over Ireland, giving them the boost, they need to turn a new page and change their life direction. I’m looking forward to being part of their journey.”
As demonstrated by the recent HEA Analysis of Completion Rates in Irish Higher Education, disadvantaged socio-economic groups are less likely to complete college than their peers.
Speaking at the #YouthEmpowered 2019 launch, Matthieu Seguin, General Manager, Coca-Cola HBC Ireland and Northern Ireland said:
“I really enjoyed the opportunity today to meet these young people who have so much potential. With increased competition for talent, and evolving needs for new and different skillsets, it has never been more important for us, as a business, to evolve the training eco-system and play a leadership role in developing the next generation.
“In addition to our commitment to developing the future leaders, we also feel a responsibility to be change-makers within the community. Our #YouthEmpowered programme strives to achieve both objectives. #YouthEmpowered offers a stepping stone to the one in ten unemployed young people on the island of Ireland, and we’re really proud to be able to cultivate real life skills that can further unlock their potential.”
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As part of the #YouthEmpowerered programme, free skills-based workshops will be delivered in locations across Ireland in partnership with YouthAction Northern Ireland, and Youth Work Ireland.
Speaking about her experience, Sarah Dunne from Dublin who successfully completed last year’s #YouthEmpowered programme, said the following:
“I think people really underestimate how challenging it can be for some people when they leave school to make the next move. I wouldn’t have felt comfortable in a workshop environment before I started the #YouthEmpowered programme but having completed a few of the Digital Hub courses in my own time at home, I felt a lot more confident in my ability to participate in a group setting. The Youth Coaches in the classroom helped me understand what my potential is, but also the types of courses that I might be more interested in down the line, so I would encourage anyone else in the same boat to give it a try.”
Over 40 employees from Coca-Cola HBC will once again lend their support to the programme in 2019 as #YouthEmpowered Youth Coaches, sharing personal experiences about their own journey to meaningful employment, career guidance and business insights.
Watch the short video for Youth Empowered 2019 launch with Philly McMahon and Eoghan Quigg:
To find out more or to register to free interactive eLearning courses, visit www.youthempowered.ie.
