The Urban Synergy 2011 Summer Activities Programme kicked off it’s first session today on how to manage in a difficult situation. Tony Harrison, Director of ‘Life Skills Training Consultancy’ and one of several partner companies commented,
‘Today I witnessed a group of young mentees get their teeth into the nuts and bolts of dealing with difficult situations. A challenging topic at the best of times, but for these teenagers it represented an opportunity to arm themselves with knowledge and experience that empowers them to approach difficult situations without fear and develop focused outlooks towards positive outcomes. It was a pleasure to facilitate this group and I look forward to tracking their future successes.’
Vivienne, an adult volunteer and supporter of fun, thought-provoking activities aimed at steering young people on the right track described the topic for the workshop as ‘interesting’. Ibrahim (16) & Tion (14) both felt that the incorporation of a video clip from a known British film was good. Ibrahim referred specifically to the ‘ideas…that was drawn from it’. The young people discuss dilemmas as a group such as how they would deal with losing their weave, others making a wrong assumption about them based on how they looked and what they can do reduce or prevent a situation becoming difficult and impossible to deal with constructively. The young people learnt much about the funny side of everyday difficulties as well as the serious reality that we all face similar challenges and with knowledge and experience we can respond differently and better, if we choose to.
Both Louisa (16) and Caleb (14) recognised the need to ‘improve my body language’. The workshop served it’s purpose by sowing a seed and as a reminder that verbally and nonverbally we communicate a message to the world that we are ultimately responsible for whether we realise it or not.