Karla Turner with five of her OCN graduates who have gone on to do a course at Ulster University with. Dr Eric Cownie (Standing at the Back)

The Market Development Association in inner-south Belfast has seen remarkable results from their community education programme.

They started with a ten-week lecture series based on a human rights approach to community renewal which addressed issues they had identified in their area. About 60 area residents got involved, coming along to the topics that interested them. Of this group, 13 people decided to take the next step towards further education with Supporting Communities.

Starting in January 2022, when classes were still being conducted online, the group took on the first of our OCN-accredited courses with our trainer, Karla Turner. They were keen to keep the learning going, and in a matter of months, 11 people completed all three levels of our community development series, earning three OCN qualifications each. Five of our graduates then used this as a springboard to Ulster University’s Community Development degree course, where they are currently working on their 3rd module of year one!

OCN students working on their course at the Markets Development Association

This is a terrific accomplishment that takes a great deal of commitment. We are incredibly proud of everyone who took part. The group celebrated their accomplishments at an event at Belfast City Hall earlier this year. We spoke to a few of the people involved to learn more about their experience.

Fionntán Hargey, the MDA project worker responsible for organising the educational programme, hopes that it will revitalise community development in the area. He says it gave people a shot in the arm, post-Covid, to get involved.

“After the 10-week lecture programme, we thought we would also give residents a pathway to a more formal skillset and theoretical grounding in what they were doing, so that’s where Supporting Communities and the OCNs came in,” he explained. Fionntán hopes graduates of the course will feed back into their community and be leaders in the resident action groups that have formed around six key issues in the area.

Christine (In the Green jacket) CELEBRATING at City Hall

Christine Farmer took part in the initial 10-week education programme, went on to do all three OCNs, and is now at Ulster University pursuing her degree. As a former youth worker, she says she is interested in the educational theme of the MDA’s work. She says she missed the connection she used to feel with her community and wanted to get involved again so this came along at the right time for her.

“My aspiration is to help people,” says Christine. “I hope to boost young people’s abilities and get kids back into education. This OCN programme has already given a boost to people in the area beyond the participants. They are proud of us! I hope that others see me and think, if she can do it, so can I!”

Christine says Supporting Communities helped her to believe she could go on to higher education. “University was a bit daunting at the start, but I’m finding my balance now. As a child, I didn’t get a great start in school, so getting back into education was scary, but Karla made it easy for us. She has such a lovely way about her, and she really helped me build my confidence.

“I also want to thank MDA for doing the project and giving me the chance to do this. I don’t think I would be here at university now without them!” said Christine.

Marcella Kelly had a similar experience. She also participated in the initial 10-week lecture series, which got her thinking about her future.

“I’d been at home taking care of my disabled daughter, and I hadn’t given much thought to what I would do when she gets older, but the sessions made me think I’d like to get back into education myself.”

“The OCN courses were made so accessible to us being in our community centre. Karla was so great and always available to us to help. She made the material easy to understand and helped us to get everything done on time!”

“When I get my degree, I’d like to work in the community and give back. I’m from here and grew up here, but studying community development has opened my mind, and now I’m looking at things from a broader picture. Breaking down the barriers to education in this area is so important for our future. I want to be a part of that.

I want people to know that if school doesn’t work for you, there are other avenues and other options. This community development degree has shown me how rigid our mainstream educational system is. It’s failing so many people who don’t fit the mould. Everyone should be treated equally and have the opportunity to further their education if they want to.”

Both women say their success is down to a growth in self-confidence. Growing up in a working-class area, people aren’t always told they are smart and capable enough to go to university, they explained.

“Karla really helped to reassure us that we could do it, and we did! Working as a group through the OCN courses was great. With the backing of the MDA and Supporting Communities, we helped each other get there.”

Congratulations to everyone at MDA who has gotten involved in the community education programme. We’re excited to see what you do next!