‘Siuthad! Tachartas Dhreuchdan Gàidhlig A' Tilleadh Gu Eden Court - ‘siuthad!' (go On!) Gaelic Careers Event Returns To Eden Cour

10th November 2023

Thàinig luchd-labhairt òg na Gàidhlig bho àrd-sgoiltean air feadh sgìre Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd còmhla ri Leasachadh Sgilean na h-Alba (SDS) agus Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd air Diardaoin 9 Samhain san Eden Court ann an Inbhir Nis, airson a' chiad Siuthad! aghaidh ri aghaidh bho 2019. Tha an tachartas eagraichte le Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd agus SDS le maoineachadh a' tighinn bho Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd 's nan Eilean (HIE) agus Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

B' e amas an tachartais tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig, fiosrachadh mu dhreuchdan Gàidhlig a thoirt gu aire agus cothroman Gàidhlig fhollaiseachadh ann an roinnean far a bheil sgilean Gàidhlig nam buannachd. Bha an tachartas cuimsichte air luchd-labhairt fileanta ann an Gàidhlig ann an ÀS1 gu ÀS3, a' ceadachadh do na sgoilearan barrachd chothroman foghlaim àrd-ìre is ìre adhartach a rannsachadh far am faodadh cleachdadh air an sgilean Gàidhlig a bhith aig teis-meadhan an cuid soirbheachaidh.

Chaidh an tachartas fhosgladh le Lana Pheutan, neach-labhairt Gàidhlig às an Eilean Sgitheanach, a tha glè aithnichte ann an roinn nan gnìomhachasan cruthachail, agus thug i iomradh air a slighe dhreuchdail a' cleachdadh na Gàidhlig.

Anns an tachartas bha raon margaideachd / taisbeanaidh air a dhèanamh suas de dh'àireamh de thaisbeanairean a’ gàbhail a-steach Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann, Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean, Coimisean na Croitearachd, Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba, agus Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean (UHI).

Ghabh sgoilearan com-pàirt ann am bùithtean-obrach eadar-obrachail agus chuala iad bho riochdairean roinnean, a’ gabhail a-steach nan gnìomhachasan cruthachail, foghlam agus na meadhanan didseatach, mu an obair a tha iad a’ dèanamh agus na slighean a lean iad nan dreuchdan fa leth.

Fhuair na bùithtean-obrach aoigheachd bhon BhBC, Fèisean nan Gàidheal agus an Acadamaidh Iomairt Shòisealta. Labhair cuid de na Tosgairean Òga Gàidhlig ris na sgoilearan mu an obair agus mar a tha leantainn slighe dhreuchdail Gàidhlig air cothrom a thoirt dhaibh coimhead air adhart ri beatha choileanta san àm ri teachd.

Thuirt Derek MacCoinnich, Oifigear Leasachaidh Gàidhlig SDS:

"Tha tachartasan mar seo cudromach airson follaiseachadh a dhèanamh air cothroman a tha fosgailte do sgoilearan tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig. Tha iad cuideachd a’ taisbeanadh an raoin fharsaing de chothroman obrach a tha fosgailte dhaibh air am bu chòir dhaibh beachdachadh san àm ri teachd."

Thuirt Calum Rothach, Cathraiche Comataidh Ghàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd:

"Tha e anabarrach math a bhith a’ faicinn an tachartais a’ tilleadh le com-pàirteachas làidir ag obrachadh eadar Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd agus Leasachadh Sgilean na h-Alba. Tha cothrom air teisteanas fhaotainn agus Gàidhlig a chleachdadh san t-saoghal obrach na bhuannachd mhòr. Tha buaidh dhearbhach aige taobh a-staigh chothroman cosnaidh de bheil mòran eisimpleirean, a’ gabhail a-steach an riaghaltas ionadail, an roinn phoblach fharsaing agus an NHS, na gnìomhachasan cruthachail, obraichean ùra, an roinn àrainneachdail, agus na meadhanan sòisealta.

"B’ e cothrom fìor mhath a bha seo do dhaoine òga le Gàidhlig à sgoiltean air feadh na Gàidhealtachd, conaltradh le com-pàirtichean agus sgrùdadh is rannsachadh a dhèanamh air barrachd chothroman an lùib dhreuchdan co-cheangailte ri Gàidhlig. Tha fios agam gun do lorg na sgoilearan an tachartas glè fhiosrachail agus tarraingeach."

Thuirt Catriona Nic a' Phì, Tidsear Gàidhlig aig Acadamaidh Rìoghail Inbhir Nis:

"Bha na sgoilearan againne gu mòr a’coimhead air adhart ris an tachartas seo a fhrithealadh. Tha cruaidh fheum air luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig ann an saoghal na h-obrach agus ’s e deagh chothrom a bha an seo dhan òigridh a bhith a’ faicinn far am biodh feum air an cuid sgilean agus cuideachd gus iad fhèin a bhrosnachadh gu bhith a’ beachdachadh air na dh’fhaodadh iad dèanamh an dèidh dhaibh an sgoil fhàgail. Tha deagh mheasgachadh de dhreuchdan gu bhith air an sanasachd agus bidh cothrom aig na sgoilearan ceistean fhaighneachd mun deidhinn. Bidh e cuideachd na thlachd dhan na sgoilearan coinneachadh ri Gàidheil òga à sgoiltean eile. Abair cothrom anns gach dòigh!"

Airson tuilleadh fiosrachaidh, cuiribh fios gu derek.mackenzie@sds.co.uk no Margaret.Mulholland@highland.gov.uk

Deireadh

‘Siuthad!’ (Go On!) Gaelic careers event returns to Eden Court

Young Gaelic speakers from secondary schools across the Highland Council area joined Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and Highland Council on Thursday 9 November at Eden Court in Inverness for the first face-to-face Siuthad! Gaelic careers event since 2019. The event is organised by Highland Council and SDS with funding also provided by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Bord na Gàidhlig.

The aim of this Gaelic Medium event was to highlight information on Gaelic careers and showcase Gaelic opportunities in sectors where having these language skills is an advantage. The event was aimed at fluent speakers of Gaelic in S1 to S3 and allowed the pupils to explore further and higher education opportunities where using their Gaelic skills could be key to their success.

The event was opened by Lana Beaton, a Gaelic speaker from Skye, who is well known in the creative industries sector, and spoke about her career journey using Gaelic .

The event incorporated a marketplace/exhibitor area made up of a number of exhibitors including Bord na Gàidhlig, the University of Edinburgh, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Crofting Commission, Historic Environment Scotland, and the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI).

Pupils participated in interactive workshops and heard from representatives from sectors including the creative industries, education, and digital media about the work they do and the pathways they followed in their respective careers.

Workshops were hosted by the BBC, Feisean nan Gaidheal, and Social Enterprise Academy. Some Gaelic Young Ambassadors also spoke to pupils about their work and how following a Gaelic career path has provided them with a fulfilling future to look forward to.

SDS Gaelic Development Officer, Derek Mackenzie, said, "Events like this are important to highlight opportunities that are open to Gaelic Medium pupils. They also show the wide range of vocations that are open to them that they should consider for the future".

Chairperson of Highland Council Gaelic Committee Councillor, Calum Munro, said, "It’s great to see the event return with positive partnership working between the Highland Council and Skills Development Scotland. The opportunity to have a qualification and use Gaelic within the world of work is of a huge advantage. It has a positive influence within career opportunities of which there are examples including local government, the wider public sector including the NHS, the creative industries, new start-ups, the environmental sector, and social media.

"This was a great opportunity for Gaelic-speaking young people from schools across the Highlands to engage with participants and to explore and research further the opportunities for Gaelic-related careers. I know that pupils found the event very informative and engaging".

Gaelic Teacher at Inverness Royal Academy Catriona Macphee,said, "Our pupils were very much looking forward to attending this event. Gaelic speakers are very much needed in the workforce and this will be an excellent opportunity for the young people to see where their skills may be needed as well as encouraging them to think about their future career pathways. They got a glimpse of a wide variety of professions and options as well as getting a valuable opportunity to ask any questions they may have. It is also a golden opportunity for the pupils to meet young Gaels from other schools and areas. A great event in every way!