Posted On: 8th Apr 2014
Fixer Cillian on stage
Cillian acting
Cillian playing guitar and singing
Music student Cillian Donaghy thinks inspiring young people to do performing arts could be the perfect play in tackling anti-social behaviour in his community.
The 19-year-old Fixer and his team from Magherafelt, County Londonderry, feel the discipline can give teenagers purpose and offer them a better way to spend their time.
‘There are problems with underage drinking and gang culture in the area,’ says Cillian. ‘But I think it’s because most young people have nothing better to do.
‘A lot of them just want to enjoy the company of their friends and we feel that performing arts could offer them the chance to do that without being a nuisance.
‘Even rehearsing can give people a purpose, a goal and ultimately an opportunity to do something worthwhile.'
With the help of Fixers, Cillian and his team have designed an educational workshop booklet for young people.
It encourages them to take on the role of someone being anti-social and then explains how this behaviour could be avoided in real life.
Click here to see the group's Fixers booklet
‘The booklet looks really great,’ says Cillian. ‘While it is all about role play, the message behind it is very real.
‘We wanted to create something interactive where young people can see first-hand how anti-social behaviour can impact the lives of others.’
The group are looking to distribute their Fixers booklets in local schools, colleges and youth centres.
Cillian explains: ‘We feel that sharing our campaign with as many people as possible will help others our age divert their energies into doing something creative.
‘Of course performing arts is not the final chapter in solving anti-social behaviour, but it can certainly be part of the solution.’