27 Students take advantage of summer work opportunities

20th August 2014

27 students were provided with summer work under this year's Students Summer Placement Scheme, which HIE contract Comunn na Gàidhlig to deliver.

The students, who are either fluent Gaelic speakers or learners, are working with businesses and third sector organisations across the Highlands and islands. The work placements are for a minimum of 10 weeks over the summer months.

The scheme aims to provide the students with work with businesses and third sector organisations where Gaelic is the main language in the workplace. The students benefit from the scheme in many ways - they are immersed in a "Gaelic environment" for the 10 weeks, which improves their level of fluency; they gain experience of a working environment; they are given the opportunity to return to their own communities for the summer months and the opportunity to earn some money. There are also benefits for the employers in that they get young, enthusiastic workers with specific skills and also are given financial assistance to help with costs. The scheme also provides employers with the opportunity to see students, who will be graduating in the not too distant future, with a view to future recruitment.

Neil Ross, Head of Community Growth at Highlands and Islands Enterprise said: "We are delighted to be providing opportunities for Gaelic students to access quality students summer placements in parallel with growth support for the host organisations which Comunn na Gàidhlig have identified. The placements provide students with paid, project-based work experience in a predominantly Gaelic-speaking environment whilst businesses benefit from up-to-date academic knowledge and fresh thinking to help the business grow. It also gives many students additional opportunities to work in their own communities over the summer months. The benefits of the programme are significant in both economic and population retention and growth terms, enhancing the resilience of local economies."

Annabel Maclennan, who is a student in Glasgow University, and is on placement with the BBC in Stornoway, over the summer months said: "I am thoroughly enjoying my placement with BBC Radio nan Gàidheal. Since I started here, my skills in researching have greatly improved and I have a learnt a lot about programme making. I would recommend the Summer Placement Scheme to anybody who wishes to work in a Gaelic environment and wishes to develop their existing skills and learn new ones. Another huge benefit of the scheme is that it enables students like myself, who are studying in colleges and universities in the central belt, to come back home, to my own community for the summer month. Were it not for this scheme, I am certain there are a number of students who would have to remain on the mainland to get summer jobs."

Floraidh Maclean, from the BBC, which has participated in the scheme over the years said: "It is good that we are able to welcome young people to Gaelic broadcasting and to give them an opportunity to gain experience in the industry. It has also always been a priority for us to encourage new talent. We are delighted with the young students who are with us year, as is the case each year, and this year we have the added bonus of being based in the new Taigh Shìophort which provides more opportunities for the students.”

Councillor Hamish Fraser Chair of The Highland Council's Gaelic Implementation Group said: “ The Student Placement Scheme provides an excellent opportunity for young people to gain valuable work experience within both the public and private sector and also using their Gaelic skills on a daily basis within the general working environment”, he continued, “the use of Gaelic in the Workplace is one of the 5 themes in the Highland Council's Gaelic Language Plan and I see the Student Placement Scheme as an excellent example of how young people can use and develop their linguistic skills whilst based within organisations and businesses in the Highlands and Islands. I wish all the students participating in the Scheme every success.”

Donald MacNeill, Ceannard of Comunn na Gàidhlig, who run the scheme said: “We are extremely proud of this scheme which has been running successfully now for 10 years. Over these past 10 years almost 250 students have participated in the scheme. This year we have an excellent geographic spread with students on placement in Lewis, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist, Barra, Tiree, Skye and Inverness and this has enabled many of these students who are studying in colleges and universities across Scotland to return home to their own communities for the summer months. This is important. We are extremely grateful to Highlands and Islands Enterprise for this commission and the majority of the funding for this scheme, and also to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and The Highland Council who also provide funding for the scheme.”

27 Oileanaich a' Faighinn Cothroman Obrach Fad Mìosan an t-Samhraidh

Fhuair 27 oileanaich obair samhraidh air Sgeama Greis Gnìomhachais nan Oileanach na bliadhna sa a tha Comunn na Gàidhlig a’ libhrigeadh fo chùmhnant do HIE.

Fhuair 27 oileanaich obair samhraidh air Sgeama Greis Gnìomhachais nan Oileanach na bliadhna sa a tha Comunn na Gàidhlig a’ libhrigeadh fo chùmhnant do HIE.

Tha na h-oileanaich, a tha fileanta, neo ag ionnsachadh Gàidhlig, ag obair còmhla ri gnìomhachasan is buidhnean san treas roinn air feadh na Gàidhealtachd’s nan eilean. Tha an obair a’ seasamh airson co-dhiù 10 seachdainean, rè mìosan an t-samhraidh.

Tha an sgeama ag amas air cothrom a thoirt do oileanaich cothrom obrach fhaighinn còmhla ri gnìomhachasan is buidhnean san treas roinn far a bheil a’ Ghàidhlig na prìomh cànain san àite-obrach. Tha mòran bhuannachdan san sgeama do na h-oileanaich - gu faigh iad cothrom a bhith air am bogadh anns a’ chànan airson 10 seachdainean, a bheir piseach air an ìre fileantachd aca; gu faigh iad eòlas air àite-obrach; gu faigh iad cothrom tilleadh dhan coimhearsnachdan aca fhèin mìosan an t-samhraidh agus gu faigh iad beagan cosnadh a dhèanamh. Tha buannachdan san sgeama dhan luchd-fastaidh cuideachd leis gu bheil iad a’ faighinn obraichean òga misneachail le sgilean sònraichte agus gu bheil iad a’ faighinn taic-airgid airson compàirteachadh san sgeama. Tha e cuideachd a’ toirt cothrom dhan luchd-fastaidh sealladh fhaighinn air oileanaich a bhios a’ ceumnachadh am beagan ùine le sùil ri bhith fastadh luchd-obrach sna bliadhnachan ri thighinn.

Thuirt Niall Ros, Ceannard Fàs Coimhearsnachd aig Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd’s nan Eilean: “Tha sinn toilichte a bhith a cruthachadh chothroman do oileanaich aig am bheil Gàidhlig, a dhol air greisean gnìomhachais mhath, fheumail agus aig an aon àm a’ cuideachadh na gniomhachasan a tha a’ gabhail na h-oileanaich air aoigheachd, le taic fàs. ‘S iad Comunn na Gàidhlig a bhios a’ comharrachadh na gnìomhachasan airson an sgeama. Tha buannachd san sgeama do na h-oileanaich leis gu bheil iad a’ faighinn eòlas-obrach pàighte ann an àrainneachd gu ìre mhòr Gàidhlig agus tha buannachd ann do na gnìomhachasan leis gu bheil iad a’ faighinn oileanaich aig am bheil fiosrachadh acadeamaigeach ùr agus beachdan adhartach gus cuideachadh fàs a thoirt air na gnìomhachasan aca. Tha an sgeama cuideachd a’ toirt cothroman a bharrachd do oileanaich obrachadh sna coimhearsnachdan aca fhèin thairis mìosan an t-samhraidh. Tha buannachdan an sgeama cudromach a thaobh gach cuid eaconamaidh is gleidheadh is fàs a thoirt air sluagh, a’ cur ri neart na h-eaconamaidhean ionadail.”

Thuirt Annabel NicIllinnein, a tha na h-oileanach an Oilthigh Ghlaschu, agus a tha a’ dèanamh greis gnìomhachais còmhla ris a’ BhBC, fad an t-samhraidh: “Tha e a’ còrdadh rium gu mòr a bhith ag obair aig BBC Radio nan Gaidheal. Bho thòisich mi, tha na sgilean rannsachaidh agam air a thighinn air adhart agus tha mi air tòrr ionnsachadh a thaobh mar a tha prògraman air an cuir ri chèile. Mholainn an Sgeama Greis Gnìomhachais do dhuine sam bith a tha airson obrachadh ann an saoghal na Gàidhlig agus tha a’ miannachadh sgilean ùra ionnsachadh agus an fheadhainn a th’aca a leasachadh. Rud eile a tha sònraichte math mun sgeama se gu bheil e a’ toirt a’ chothrom do oileanaich, mar mi fhèin, a th’ ann an oilthigh am meadhan na h-Alba tilleadh dhan choimhearsnachd agam fhèin airson mìosan an t-samhraidh. Mur a bitheadh an sgeama, tha gu leòr oileanaich a dh’ fheumadh fuireach air falbh, a’ dèanamh cosnadh air tìr-mòr.”

Thuirt Floraidh NicIlleathain, bhon BhBC, a th’ air a bhith a’ fastadh oileanaich fon sgeama thairis nam bliadhnachan: “Tha e math gu bheil cothrom againn saoghal craolaidh fhosgladh a-mach do dhaoine òga agus an cothrom a thoirt dhaibh eòlas fhaighinn air a’ ghnìomhachas agus bha e riamh cudromach dhuinn gu bheil sinn a' brosnachadh tàlant ùr. Tha sinn uabhasach toilichte leis na h-oileanaich òga a tha còmhla rinn gach Samhradh agus am bliadhna tha sinn air ceum eile a ghabhail le bhith còmhla ann an togalach ùr chruthachail Taigh Shìophort le cothroman fa leth airson gach oileanach".

Thuirt an Comhairliche Hamish Friseil, Cathraiche Buidheann Buileachadh Plana Gaidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd: “Tha an Sgeama Greis Gnìomhachais a’ toirt deagh chothrom do dhaoine òga gach cuid eòlas fhaighinn san àite obrach agus an cuid Gàidhlig a cleachdadh gu làitheil ann an àrainneachd na h-àite-obrach.” Lean e air, “tha cleachdadh Gàidhlig san àite-obrach air fear de na 5 prìomhachasan am Plana Gàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd agus tha mise a’ coimhead an Sgeama Greis Gnìomhachais na deagh eisimpleir air dòigh is urrainn do dhaoine òga an cuid Gàidhlig a cleachdadh agus a leasachadh, stèidhte taobh a-staigh gnìomhachasan is buidhnean san treas roinn air feadh a’ Ghàidhealtachd’s nan eilean. Tha mi a’ guidhe gun tèid gu math do na h-oileanaich a tha a’ gabhail pàirt san sgeama.”

Thuirt Dòmhnall MacNèill, Ceannard, Chomunn na Gàidhlig, a tha a’ ruith an sgeama: “Tha sinn air leth moiteil às an sgeama sa a th’ air a bhith a’ ruith gu soirbheachail a-nis airson 10 bliadhna. Thairis na 10 bliadhna sa tha faisg air 250 oileanach air compàirteachadh air an sgeama. Am bliadhna sa, tha oileanaich againn sgapte air feadh na sgìrean le feadhainn an Leòdhas, Uibhist a-tuath, Beinn na Fadhla, Uibhist a-deas, Barraigh, Tiriodh, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach agus an Inbhir Nis – tha seo air cothrom a thoirt do oileanaich a th’ ann an colaistean is oilthighean air feadh Alba tilleadh dhachaigh dhan coimhearsnachdan aca fhèin agus beagan cosnaidh a dhèanamh fad mìosan an t-samhraidh. Tha seo cudromach. Tha sinn taingeil do Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd’s nan Eileanan airson a’ choimisean a tha seo agus airson a’ mhòr-chuid den mhaoineachadh son an sgeama, agus cuideachd do Chomhairle nan Eilean Siar is Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd a tha cuideachd a’ maoineachadh an sgeama.”