Pandemic generation: ‘It felt like the end of our childhood’

Braxton (17) lives alone in north inner city Dublin. “I know how to wash, cook, fold the towels, and do all the things that a ma – or sometimes da – does,” says Braxton. “I pay for my own food, heating and electricity. I look after myself and I’m a single father to my puppy, a little bullmastiff. I love her very much but she’s hard work.

“Before Covid, I had my nanny and granda, and my mam was getting better. Then came the first lockdown and [patients] were sent home – this was not good for my mam and things went downhill.

“My uncle and granda have always been there for me, but my uncle died on July 22nd last year and my granda died less than six months later. They were my father figures.”

82 per cent of youth workers predict long-term damage to the young people they support as a result of the last 12 months

Braxton found it increasingly hard to concentrate on school and dropped out. He is currently working at his grandfather’s bike yard.

Understanding shame: Redefine it and you can dial down its importance

---

Response to climate emergency set to shape our children’s future

---

The Irish Times shortlisted in three categories for coverage of mental health

---

Braxton is one of five young people who feature in A Stitch in Time, a new four-part web documentary series from the Irish Youth Foundation (IYF), presented by musician and Other Voices host MayKay. In the series disadvantaged young people and youth workers in Dublin, Limerick and Waterford talk about the impact of the pandemic on their lives.

The fallout from the pandemic is also addressed in the IYF's recent Generation Pandemic report, which includes a survey of over 300 youth workers in Ireland and interviews with young people across the state. In the report, 82 per cent of youth workers predict long-term damage to the young people they support as a result of the last 12 months. Years of progress have been undone, they say.

Declan Keenan is a community and youth worker with the IYF-supported JustAsk after-school project, which operates in the Dublin 7 area. JustAsk, like most youth services, depends on Ireland’s 41,400 youth workers – of whom 40,000 (96.6 per cent) are volunteers.

“After school, primary and secondary children can come here, get a hot meal, help with their homework, do arts and crafts and have a space to play,” he says. “If you’re living in the inner city or an apartment, you’re low on space, so it’s a relief for parents to have this space for their children.”

Braxton helps out a few times a week organising activities, and wants to be a good role model for the younger children.

“From around 11 to 15, I went to Deco’s every day, but now I have a lot to do,” he says. “I want to get a safe place to live in, but it’s hard to get a job that I could survive on. How could anyone live in Dublin on minimum wage, making €400 a week?”

My coach has put so much effort and belief into me, and it's made me believe in myself. He's changed my life and now I'm helping the younger kids

Braxton, along with Chloe (15) and Olivia (15), who also attend JustAsk, say that friendship has helped them through the last two years.

The girls, who are best friends, both have medically vulnerable family members.

“We had to be careful,” says Chloe. “I could only see Olivia maybe twice a week, and if we did meet it was outside wearing masks. I actually started to miss school – it was really hard to learn online. We’re like any teenagers, or most people, really: give us a computer and it’s hard to listen to teachers. My ma really wanted me to do the work though so she’d have me in the sitting room and she’d make sure there were no distractions, like TV.”

Olivia, the second eldest of five siblings, has eight people in her house. As the only girl, she has her own room. “I play football and camogie and I used to play basketball. I also play piano, guitar and violin. Music and sport have always helped me but it was harder to do either during lockdown. I have a sensory processing disorder which has always made school a bit of a struggle, but Covid turned the world upside down. I found online learning even harder, and it didn’t help with eight people needing wifi.”

When they could, the girls went to nearby Blessington Street Basin, an old reservoir which became a public park in 1994.

“Or we’d sit on the avenue,” Chloe and Olivia say. “Deco was a big support and he’d take us out when he could and keep us going.”

In Southill, Limerick, sixth-year student Kian (18) lives with his aunt and three siblings. “Before Covid, I had no drive and I followed other people. They say that you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. In lockdown, I missed just walking home from football with my friends. It felt like the end of our childhood. With nothing to do, I got into boxing and now I go every day, loving it. My coach has put so much effort and belief into me, and it’s made me believe in myself. He’s changed my life and now I’m helping the younger kids. It’s early days and I’m not the most polished, but I want to work towards the Olympics.”

Kian hopes to study business and open his own gym.

Olivia wants to work in musical theatre or be a music teacher. “I’d like to work with young people, like Declan does.”

Chloe dreams of visiting Japan and has a part-time job. “I’ve wanted to be a firefighter since I was nine,” she says.

Braxton had two apprenticeships lined up, but realised he’d earn more working at the bike yard. “I have to get by. I’d love to go to college and have my own business. I know I am capable, I can haggle and I’ve a good head on my shoulders, but if I don’t get away from here, I’ll be stuck. I’ve seen so much drugs and violence; I want more for my life.”

The effects of the pandemic will play out for years, but it's not too late: there are incredibly talented, dedicated youth workers who understand the needs of young people in their community

In the Generation Pandemic reported 85 per cent of youth workers said the last 12 months had been “extremely difficult” for the young people they support, and 82 per cent predict there will be serious long-term damage to the young people in their communities.Youth workers cited a steep rise in early school leaving, increased cycles of poverty and unemployment, a generation lacking in social skills and resilience to succeed and years of work wiped out among disadvantaged communities.

Declan Keenan says: "We worry about cuts and changes to State family support, when what we need is a 10-year ringfenced strategic plan for after-school services. Many of these programmes are funded through the Department of Justice, rather than the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. Why? Because they only want to know which children are at risk of causing trouble or damage, when what they should be asking is: what children are at risk of being damaged?"

“We are facing a generational timebomb,” says Lucy Masterson, chief executive of IYF. “The effects of the pandemic will play out for years, but it’s not too late: there are incredibly talented, dedicated youth workers who understand the needs of young people in their community: they’re ready to be mobilised. With more homework clubs and after-school support, and by providing safe spaces for young people, we can catch this.”

Watch A Stitch in Time at IYF.ie or on YouTube

MayKay hosts Other Voices in Dingle from November 25th, OtherVoices.ie