The RAP Music Project is a music and video project brought together by the KDYS BAPADE Garda Youth Diversion Project (GYDP) third year students from IT Tralee.

It stemmed from a Rap Music Project that was initially set up in the KDYS by Gary McCarthy from Cork who has run many rap music projects and Caroline Killeen. The GYDP asked the young people if they would like to record the music and make a video to go with it. If all went well we would upload it to Youtube once completed.

It involved six young people and a volunteer who had worked with them on the original project as well as the Youth Justice Worker from the GYDP. The Justice Worker approached Mary Lucey, Head of Department in IT Tralee about the idea. Mary was more than helpful and enthusiastic about the plan. We were then put in touch with Philip Doyle from the Media Department who linked us with two third year students, Ray Fahy and Jack Crooks. Together we drew up a plan that we could approach the young people with for the overall project.

The young people had written tracks about issues affecting them in their lives, touching on topics like boredom and the negative impact of drugs on their community.

The young people were involved and participated in all aspects of the project. Their creative talents were explored by generating their ideas and writing the words and music. The planning of the video, places where it could be filmed and how it was to look were all done in consultation with the young people.

Outcomes for the young people included

• Through the evaluation and participation in the project, the young people will be able to describe and list the processes involved in making a music track/video.
• Young people will develop social skills and pro-social attitudes by working with IT staff and students.
• The project aims to reduce young people’s impulsiveness by guiding them through the long term process involved in making this project.
• The project aims to improve school attendance and or performance by helping the young people to assess the importance of attending a college of further education.
• Young people will develop new skills in music and IT.
• Young people will be able to explain the benefits of working as a team and demonstrate leadership skills as the project develops.

The music video has now come to fruition and should be ready for release in the coming few weeks. Hopefully the idea can be an inspiration to other young people in the county.

The launch date has been set for Friday 10^th of August in the KDYS Killarney where the group will perform their track and the video will be shown. Bands from the Music Project will perform after the Rap Group, KMC. All are welcome to attend.

Alfie Hughes,

Youth Justice Worker,

BAPADE Garda Youth Diversion Project,

KDYS, Fairhill,

Killarney,

Co. Kerry.       Ph. 085-7878049.               Email, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it