To support the work of United States Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs, Joseph P. Kennedy III
Belfast, Co. Antrim, June 4, 2024 (
irishap.org) – U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs Joseph P. Kennedy III met with Irish American Partnership President & CEO Mary Sugrue, and FIT CEO Peter David at the Portview Trade Centre where they presented a tailored digital skills initiative for disadvantaged young people in Belfast.
SparkStart Digital was designed in honor of Special Envoy Kennedy to further support the economic development work he has achieved across Northern Ireland.
Pictured at top of page: Irish American Partnership CEO Mary Sugrue, U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs, Joseph P. Kennedy III, FIT CEO Peter Davitt, Sir Bruce Robinson, Irish American Partnership Board member and former head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service.
To ignite interest in IT for unemployed marginalized young people, SparkStart is customized to provide targeted support and opportunities to acquire digital skills, build confidence, and access pathways to further learning and quality employment with good career prospects.
"There are hundreds of people who will be helped by this investment, and I'm so moved that the Irish American Partnership would think to do so in collaboration with our efforts," said U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs, Joseph P. Kennedy III.
Prioritizing young job seekers experiencing challenges such as young people not in education, employment, or training, women returners, newly arrived migrant communities, and special educational needs learners, SparkStart Digital will facilitate 350 participants for 3 years.
Of these participants:
90% will attain a recognized digital skills qualification
45% will progress into further technology skills training
30% will progress into employment at a practitioner level in the technology industry.
Pictured: Katie Slevin, Program Manager with FIT Northern Ireland, Irish American Partnership CEO Mary Sugrue, U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs, Joseph P. Kennedy III, FIT CEO Peter Davitt, Danielle Barr, Director of Training & Employment Services at FIT, Sir Bruce Robinson, Irish American Partnership Board member and former head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service.
"We are proud to invest in Northern Ireland's future through the support of the FIT SparkStart Digital Initiative, in honor of our great friend, Special Envoy Joe Kennedy. Continuing our work of the past 38 years, we are committed to bolstering the economic development and education opportunities afforded to young people in Belfast," said Chief Executive Mary Sugrue.
"We're a social enterprise. Our profit is getting people jobs," said CEO Peter David. "Our journey began with the Irish-American Partnership in 1986 as our first funder at the Ballymun Job Centre in North Dublin. It is a long-term relationship which we value, and I look forward to the futuresuccesses of SparkStart Digital here in Belfast," he continued.
Also present to launch the initiative were Sir Bruce Robinson, Irish American Partnership Board member and former head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, Danielle Barr, Director of Training & Employment Services at FIT, and Kate Slevin, Program Manager with FIT NI.
ABOUT THE IRISH AMERICAN PARTNERSHIP
Dedicated to connecting Irish America and friends of Ireland to their heritage through targeted giving – the Partnership invests in education, community development, and peace initiatives across the island of Ireland. Since their inception in 1986, supporters have raised over $53 million for young people and communities, North and South, empowering and educating the next generation of global leaders. The Partnership provides targeted grants to schools, provides university access scholarships, funds education centers for homeless youth, supports peace and reconciliation initiatives in Northern Ireland, and champions Gaelic games, Irish arts, culture, and more.
www.irishap.org. #InvesTnginIrelandsFuture
