Dublin People - Rap pays off for talented teens

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Rap pays off for talented teens

Thursday, 22 May 2008

NORTHSIDE teenagers got the chance to display their songwriting and singing ability last week when a novel suicide prevention initiative came to an end.
INVENT was an exciting project devised and co-ordinated by the Axis Centre in Ballymun in an effort to tackle suicide rates in the area.
Up to 80 teenagers took part in the project, which used the medium of rap and song to explore the issues and difficulties closer to their hearts.
ay they got a chance to show off their talent in front of a live audience in the Axis.
According to project co-ordinator, Emma Connors, the project focused on developing the creativity within each of the teens.
“It really was a fantastic experience for everyone involved,” she told Northside People.
“When the course started about six months ago, a lot of the kids said there would be no way that they would be able to stand up and sing a song in front of others.”
The project involved two teenage groups from Trinity Comprehensive College in Ballymun and three local youth groups.
“It was really amazing to see how the children developed and became more confident,” Emma continued.
“We hope that we have made a difference in their lives and that they will continue to deal with their problems through song.”
Ballymun local Jessica Fagan (15) said she had personally developed as a result of the course.
“I definitely feel more confident and in touch with my feelings,” she told Northside People.
“I wrote a song about my granddad and my uncle who died and another song about my ex-boyfriend. The project was great as it helped me to stop being ashamed of my work and songwriting. In fact, a few of us even started up a band recently so it is definitely something I will keep up.”
According to Jessica, the INVENT initiative was successful at tackling isolation among teenagers.
“There was one day that I felt very down and upset until I managed to talk to the others in the group about what was bothering me,” she explained.
She added: “Courses like these really do prevent isolation among teenagers.”
Sean May (16) also had high praise for the Ballymun project.
“It was great to get the message that life is worth living and that there are other ways of dealing with your problems and expressing yourself,” he said.
“I wrote songs about love and my relationships with those closest to me.”
The INVENT project drew to a close last Friday (May 16) with a lively showcase of the songs and prose created by the teens.
A collection of work entitled ‘What do you really want to say?’ was also launched to exhibit the material developed throughout the course.

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