THE SOCIAL Health and Education Project (SHEP) celebrated its 50th anniversary and 15 years in Limerick with a graduation ceremony at The Greenhills Hotel this month. The event marked a significant milestone for SHEP, which has been instrumental in personal development and community empowerment. Established in Cork in 1974, SHEP is a unique, not-for-profit, community-based training and development organisation based in Cork, Kerry and Limerick. The SHEP Mid-West Programme is supported by the Mid-West Regional Drug and Alcohol Forum (MWRDAF) and Limerick and Clare ETB. SHEP offers an eight-week introduction to personal development, followed by a more in-depth 29-week course. Anita O'Shea, a SHEP development worker, explained, “The eight-week course gives participants a feel for personal development, and many go on to the 29-week course. We also offer a five-weekend course on social awareness and community empowerment, advanced personal development, facilitation training, and tutor training”. Cora Foley, youth development officer with the Limerick and Clare Eucation and Training Board, spoke about the importance of SHEP, saying, “Many participants continue their education after doing SHEP courses within the ETB. It’s often the first step back into the education space, helping individuals gain confidence and develop their skills and talents”. READ MORE: Podcast sounds like a great idea for Limerick City school Graduates on the evening shared their experiences and growth following the SHEP courses. One graduate named JK, highlighted how learning with SHEP helped him. "I have a history of anxiety over the years. So, basically, I was in a bad place when I first started the eight-week course. It just taught me about self-compassion and self-care, and my inner critic, and accepting what they are. Sitting with the uncertainty of not knowing what's going to go well, and just things like that, because life goes a mile a minute," said JK. Helen Ryan, regional coordinator for the Midwest Regional Drugs and
PICTURES: SHEP celebrates 50 years of teaching 'self-compassion and self-care' in Limerick hotel
