Young people discover opportunities using Gaelic
The Gaelic Careers Event Siuthad! took place in Eden Court yesterday (Wednesday 9th October) for senior pupils from Highland schools.
The aim of Siuthad! (which means Go On! in Gaelic) is to advise young people of the range of career opportunities available in Gaelic and to highlight the benefits of Gaelic skills and the added value Gaelic gives to employability.
This year’s event involved exhibitors from the Scottish Parliament, Forestry and Land Scotland, Police Scotland, Sàbhal Mòr Ostaig , UHI, Young Scot, Early Years, and Edinburgh University amongst others. In addition, workshops took place highlighting the availability of Gaelic foundation apprenticeships, careers in the Creative arts, media opportunities as well as Skills Development Scotland running a session on “My World of work”.
Siuthad! is a partnership between The Highland Council and Skills Development Scotland (SDS), Bòrd na Gàidhlig, and Highland and Islands Enterprise. The event is organised by the Highland Council Gaelic Team, SDS and Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
Ms Christie Maclean, a young Gaelic learner from Inverness who has gone on to build a career at Bòrd na Gàidhlig gave the keynote address where she stressed how learners can also go on to become fluent in the language and play an important part in the language revival.
Councillor Alister Mackinnon, Chair of the Highland Council’s Gaelic Strategy and Implementation Group and said: “Siuthad! is now in its 6th year and is adapting according to ‘new’ and evolving Gaelic careers, especially relating to requirements and opportunities in the new technologies. He continued, “Careers events which focus on Gaelic employment opportunities play a significant role as they provide platform to showcase the academic courses, apprenticeships, new technologies, creative industries and other areas where the language is key to gaining employment.”
Derek Mackenzie, Gaelic Development Officer at SDS said, “This event highlighted some of the great career opportunities that are open to those with Gaelic skills. The exhibitors and workshop providers in attendance provided testimony to this while providing pupils with information relating to their own career path and the part Gaelic has played within that.”
Shona MacLennan, Ceannard, Bòrd na Gàidhlig said: ‘We see more and more options for careers where Gaelic is beneficial. With the diverse range of exhibitors and workshops on offer we are sure that the pupils attending Siuthad will be well informed about the exciting range of opportunities that Gaelic can offer be it: socially, in the world of work, further education and beyond.”
Daoine òga a’ faighinn a-mach mu chothroman sa Ghàidhlig
Chaidh an tachartas dreuchdan Gàidhlig Siuthad! a chumail ann an Eden Court air Diciadain 9mh Dàmhair agus bha sgoilearan bho cheann shuas na h-àrd-sgoile an làthair.
’S e amas Siuthad! comhairle a thoirt do dhaoine òga mun raon chothroman dreuchdail a tha rim faotainn anns a’ Ghàidhlig agus gus aire a thogail mu na buannachdan a tha co-cheangailte ri sgilean Gàidhlig agus an luach a bharrachd a tha a’ Ghàidhlig a’ toirt dhaibh ann an saoghal na h-obrach.
Am measg na bha an làthair am-bliadhna, bha luchd-taisbeanaidh bho Phàrlamaid na h-Alba, Coilltearachd agus Fearann Alba, Poileas Alba, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean, Albannach Òg, Tràth-bhliadhnaichean agus Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann. A bharrachd, bha bùithtean-obrach ann a’ togail aire mu phreantasachdan bunaiteach a tha rim faotainn sa Ghàidhlig, dreuchdan anns na h-ealain chruthachail agus cothroman sna meadhanan. Chuir Leasachadh Sgilean Alba seisean air dòigh air ‘Mo Shaoghal Obrach.’
’S e com-pàirteachas eadar Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd agus Leasachadh Sgilean Alba, Bòrd na Gàidhlig agus Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean a th’ ann an Siuthad! Tha Sgioba na Gàidhlig aig Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd, Leasachadh Sgilean Alba agus Bòrd na Gàidhlig a’ cur an tachartais air dòigh.
Thug a’ Bh-uas Christie NicIlleathain, tè òg às Inbhir Nis a dh’ionnsaich a’ Ghàidhlig agus a tha air a dhol air adhart gu dreuchd aig Bòrd na Gàidhlig, seachad a’ phrìomh òraid. Dh’innis ise mar a dh’fhaodas luchd-ionnsachaidh a dhol air adhart gu fileantas sa chànan agus mar a tha pàirt chudromach aca ann a bhith ag ath-bheothachadh a’ chànain.
Thuirt an Comhairliche Alasdair MacFhionghain, Cathraiche Buidheann Ro-innleachd agus Buileachaidh na Gàidhlig aig Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd, “’S e seo an siathamh bliadhna aig Siuthad! agus tha e ag atharrachadh a rèir nan dreuchdan ‘ùra’ Gàidhlig, gu h-àraid a’ buntainn ris na rudan a tha a dhìth agus na cothroman a tha an lùib nan teicneòlasan ùra.”
Lean e air adhart, “Tha àite sònraichte aig tachartasan dreuchdail a tha ag amas air cothroman cosnaidh sa Ghàidhlig seach gu bheil iad a’ toirt seachad àrd-ùrlar a thaisbeanas na cùrsaichean acadaimigeach, na preantasachdan, na teicneòlasan ùra, na gnìomhachasan cruthachail agus na raointean eile far a bheil an cànan bunaiteach a thaobh cosnadh fhaighinn.”
Thuirt Derek MacCoinnich, Oifigear Leasachaidh Gàidhlig aig Leasachadh Sgilean Alba, “Sheall an tachartas gu bheil cothroman dreuchdail sgoinneil fosgailte dhaibhsan aig a bheil sgilean Gàidhlig. Bha an luchd-taisbeanaidh agus muinntir nam bùithtean-obrach nan teisteanas air a seo agus iad a’ toirt fiosrachadh do sgoilearan mun t-slighe dhreuchdail aca fhèin agus a’ phàirt a tha air a bhith aig a’ Ghàidhlig taobh a-staigh seo.”
Thuirt Shona NicIllinnein, Ceannard Bòrd na Gàidhlig: ‘Tha sinn a’ faicinn barrachd is barrachd chothroman dreuchdail far a bheil a’ Ghàidhlig buannachdail. Leis an raon fharsaing luchd-taisbeanaidh is bhùithtean-obrach a bha air an tabhann, tha sinn cinnteach gum faigh na sgoilearan a bha a’ frithealadh Siuthad deagh fhiosrachadh mun raon chothroman a tha an lùib na Gàidhlig, eadar gnothaichean sòisealta, saoghal na h-obrach, foghlam àrd-ìre agus thar sin.’
Gheibhear tuilleadh fiosrachaidh bho:
Margaret.Muholland@highland.gov.uk