Educational Programmes

Engaging, Motivating & Enhancing the Life Chances of Limerick's Youth

One of our key objectives is to enable young people to engage creatively with tangible reality to touch wood, to discover within themselves the abilities needed for current and ancient crafts and to enjoy the confidence and communication such engagement often brings.

The structure of our programme encourages:

• the building of character
• the taking of personal responsibility
• the development of leadership skills
• contributing to the community

At the AK Ilen Wooden Boat Building School we are reviving and teaching the traditional skills of wooden boat building. These are practical and transferable skills which were once common throughout Ireland but are now all but lost. They include the use of hand tools, awareness of the attributes of different woods and boat construction techniques, all of which are being taught to a new generation through our educational workshops and programmes.

Examples of transferrable employable skills include:

a) Vocabulary development and increased knowledge on various types of woods, woodwork tools, paints, and types of boats.
b) Learning how to use and care for the woodwork tools.
c) Learning painting and decorating skills
d) Learning how to work in a safe manner and the importance of same when for example using various chisels etc.
e) Leaning how to make their own woodwork tools
f) Understanding the basic principles of boat design and construction.

Limerick agencies currently involved with the Boat Building School include:

St Augustine’s School
Northside Youthreach
St Enda’s School,
St Canice’s School
The Garda Diversion Project
The Probation Agency of Limerick
The Homeless Agency of Limerick
Youth Advocacy Agency

If you are interested in enrolling in one of our programmes please don’t hesitate to get in touch - email info@ilen.ie