BYCRONANSCANLON
A SMALL community employment scheme in Killygordon has seen more than 100 people returned to full-time work in the past ten years.
The FÁS Community Employment Project, run by Crossroads And Killygordon Enterprise (CAKE), has re-trained almost 140 unemployed people since its inception.
The Project celebrates its tenth anniversary next month.
CAKE director, Mr John Butler, says it has been a huge success for the Crossroads and Killygordon areas.
"We have had a lot of success getting people back in to full time employment," Mr Butler said.
He singled out the new Burn Rock picnic area as fine example how the Scheme's work benefits local people as well as visitors passing through the village of Killygordon.
"To see the benefits, you only have to look around at all the stone work, foot paths between both villages and the Curragh Athletic football ground and the Curragh estate," he continued.
The workers are also involved in the upkeep of both local church grounds and assist the Red Hughs GAA club and Setanta hurling club. The Project has overseen much of the work on the new one million euro Oaktree Centre and the state of the art Curragh Athletic soccer grounds.
They have also been assisting the local play school with staff and will supply two workers for the new play facility.
"We run training courses and provide work experience for local people who want to pursue a career as office workers, building workers, painting and decorators and gardeners. Some of the former participants have gone on to start up their own businesses and are now employers themselves".
All the past ten years success is down to the management of the Project by FÁS, CAKE and supervisor Mr Mickey O'Brien, he says.
"Mickey has been there for the majority of the past ten years and has been a huge inspiration for all the participants in their efforts to seek full time employment.
"Every area in Donegal should have a scheme like this. It is a great opportunity to get people back to work and provides an invaluable service to the local community".
Mr Butler is urging people, both from the area and outside, to sign up for the next course on September 2.
He also took the opportunity to thank FÁS for their support, and in particular, development officer Mr James McBride.
He also thanked all the participants who took part in the Project down through the years and also paid tribute to the current workers.
Anyone wishing to join the Scheme should contact the CAKE office on 91 49557.
