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Ripples ProjectThe new and exciting Ripples Project was established by Youth A.I.D. Lewisham through the Transformation Fund, as part of the Government's Learning Revolution which aims to promote informal adult education.
As one of 300 projects nationwide, Ripples aims to undertake research into what young people want to learn and to provide a series of 20 Learning Challenges which take up to 200 young adults outside of their normal learning experiences and comfort zones.
Ripples will also create partnerships with arrange of organisations including YouGov (a leading national research organisation), and Community Education Lewisham.
Each Learning Challenge is designed, delivered, recorded (using film and other multi-media) and evaluated by a group of 20 Young Learning Advocates (LA) aged 19-25 years. They will create 'ripples' of learning for and with their peer throughout Lewisham and further afield by engaging with them in new learning experiences.
As part of the initial recruitment process, perspective Learning Advocates have already engaged in horse riding, caving, salsa and ballet dancing. They have reflected on and written about the personal and educational value of engaging in these challenging learning activities.
The LA's are now in the second phase of the project and are planning Learning Challenges for their peers. They are also developing new skills in public speaking, leadership development, research, multi-media and reflections (evaluation) through a tailor-made LA Development Programme.
More than half of the Learning Advocates are young black men and as one of them enthused about the project, '...this project provides us with opportunities to stretch our bodies and minds.....as a Learning Advocate I can be that voice, to help guide others to try new learning experiences...as they say, the water's cold, I might not like cold water, but I will give it a try anyway!'
For further information about Ripples click onto our blog or contact
Yvonne Field, Project Manager on 020 8697 2152 or
Asha Herman, Project Administrator at, a.herman@youthaid.org.uk