FILM MAKERS RISE TO THE CHALLENGE

Challenged with doing something different, a group of long term unemployed Castlemilk residents produced an upbeat video which shows the area as a desirable tourist destination.
All clients of Castlemilk Economic Development Agency's Challenge programme, the six wrote, filmed and edited their video 'Celebrating Castlemilk,' in nine weeks. None had done anything like it before. 'We wanted to show that this is a beautiful place,' said Karen Ryrie who has only recently returned to her childhood home after spending her growing years in South Africa. 'This was also very educational and very social. I've made nice, new friends.' Terry Liddell considered the course was 'brilliant.' He said, 'This is entirely different from the catering and bar work world I'm used to.' Engineer Jim Beattie saw it as a good challenge. 'The people were great to work with and Kathleen Little, our tutor, was first class.'

Margaret Martin, a housewife who'd done a photography course before, said, 'this was a great laugh.' Agreeing, Margaret Thomson, a kitchen worker, added, 'It was lots of fun and we worked well as a team with great interaction.' Once a painter and an engineer, Jim Robertson is now considering a college course as a result of the experience. 'I really enjoyed myself,' said the poet who summed up the course in a happy rhyme.

Commented Kathleen Little, 'This group's work exceeded my expectations and I hope to have their video shown in April at a Community Group Fringe event.'
CEDA's Patsy McGlynn who was the Challenge project co-ordinator, added, 'By the end of the 'Challenge' everyone had gained skills and enhanced their existing skills in areas such as communication, negotiation, team work and problem solving. This was paramount to the final success of this self-managed project. Participants benefited from a growing sense of achievement, self-esteem and confidence. And they prove that learning in a fun, friendly and informal environment, works.'

Film-makers of the CEDA Challenge programme after the premiere of their video 'Celebrating Castlemilk.'