HOODS, druggies, vandals, litter louts... these are among the stereotypical labels young people are often given in society today. Sadly antisocial behaviour is all too common in our communities, but one west Belfast girl who is spearheading a change in attitude in her neighbourhood is 17-year-old Caitlin Kane.
Throughout her early teens Caitlin admits to witnessing many acts of "drug taking, sniffing glue, alcohol, lighting fires and vandalism" among people of her age in her community.
I put it to her that she must have good morals not to get involved herself.
"Yeah," shrugs the modest teenager, who is one of six people from the north recognised in an all-Ireland youth initiative that acknowledges outstanding acts of volunteering and the positive contribution young people make in their own communities and further afield.
A sixth year student at St Louise’s Comprehensive College, Caitlin was motivated by a simple question put to her by a mentor at the St James's Forum youth club four years ago. When asked how she contributed to her community, she couldn’t answer. Caitlin took that moment and adapted her lifestyle from considering herself a ‘cool teenager’ hanging around streets with her friends, to becoming a valuable contributor to her neighbourhood.
"Around my community there was a lot of antisocial behaviour. Me and my friend started looking into doing something with our youth club as we didn't want other people growing up with antisocial behaviour. So we started doing projects and a drop-in on Friday night to get people off the streets."
Caitlin and seven others then decided to widen their work into helping homeless people on the streets of Belfast, where the realities of drug and alcohol abuse are sadly seen. She contacted external agencies to get advice and information for her and other young people at the St James’s community youth forum on how best to help homeless people, and how they as a group could adapt their approach to people in this vulnerable position.
The group raised money to fund support packages by taking part in a 24-hour sleep out.
"It was very hard as it was raining. It really made me feel like a homeless person," Caitlin recalls. "We would go into Belfast every Wednesday night and give out packages to the homeless, with sleeping bags, socks and food. It was more girls than boys, many in their 30s. It was really heartbreaking."
At first the young people got a mixed reaction.
"Some were a wee bit cheeky and didn't understand why we were talking to them but when we explained what they were doing they were very appreciative."
The impact of homelessness was made tragically clear to Caitlin when one woman in her 30s, who she and her companions had got particularly close too, was found dead in a shop doorway in Belfast city centre last March.
"She had told us her life story about how she ended up being homeless because she started doing drugs and got thrown out of her house. We visited her for three weeks and then the following week we heard the news she had died."
Last winter Caitlin organised a food bank for Syrian refugees newly arrived in her area.
"We welcomed them with some presents and invited them to an opening day in our community forum. There are terrible things happening where they live so people here should help them," she says.
Caitlin is proud that antisocial behaviour in the St James's and Bog Meadows area of west Belfast has declined. She also recognises a change within herself.
"It's made me feel far, far better about myself knowing I'm out there helping people. I would want people to help me if I was out there because you never know how your circumstances will change."
Her volunteer work has inspired her to pursue a career in youth work.
"I want to be a youth leader and tell them about the homeless people I have experienced. Hopefully they won't experience antisocial behaviour on the streets when they grow up because people like me and my friends have helped put a stop to it," she says.
Nominated by her school for the 2017 Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards, she is excited about getting dressed up for the awards ceremony on March 23 where she will be presented with €500 and an engraved silver medallion.
Two of the 20 finalists will be named All-Ireland Youth Volunteers of the Year and receive €1000, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their school and an all-expenses paid trip to the United States in May.
Within her school over the past two years Caitlin has also fund-raised for and supported people with learning disabilities through drama.
"Caitlin is making a positive contribution to her school and her community and has made huge positive changes to her own life and others," says her proud school principal Mary McHenry.
:: For more information about the 2017 Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards visit spirit.pramerica.ie.
