YH Leinster
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Mission Statement
Based on a fundamental belief that all children deserve the opportunity to reach their full potential, young Horizons is a youth charity that aims to connect children from disadvantaged areas with positive role models to inspire them to dream bigger, reach further when it comes to realising their full potential.
About This Cause
The connection between poverty and educational disadvantage is clearly shown in numerous studies throughout Ireland. Studies show only a minority of students go on to third level in disadvantaged areas, for example only 22% in Coolock, 39% in Ballyfermot, and 43% in Finglas compared to 94% in Terenure and 90% in Dundrum. This statistic shows the lack of equality of opportunity for students living in disadvantaged areas of Dublin. Young people who come from families with more financial means should not be awarded more educational opportunities than those who don't. Further studies in Ireland have shown that 80% of incarcerated persons across Ireland never completed the Leaving Certificate, most of whom are from the most-deprived areas of the country as a 2007 report shows that these areas had 145 prisoners per 10,000 people compared to least-deprived at 6 prisoners per 10,000 people. The schools yH are working with are DEIS Band 1 schools with historically high attrition rates between junior and senior cycle. Over the past few years this has improved thanks to interventions like the events described below but is still a big issue. Some of the students are part of the homeless population, living in hotels and B&Bs around the city. The students in these school really need our help, so they can imagine a future for themselves that otherwise seems impossible. Through mentoring and site visits, yH aims to create a positive link between schoolwork and potential employment opportunities. yH connects schools with companies and individuals who give a tour of their business and share their own career journeys to empower young people with the passion and motivation to stay at school and pursue a career afterwards. Overall, we have a TY programme which includes in-class workshops, company visits (e.g. at Facebook, ESB), career fairs, and 5-day placements at different companies where students get the opportunity to shadow in 1 or 2 departments. This provides them the opportunity to immerse into a motivating culture where they discover opportunities for them to develop rather than quitting school or falling for distractions like drugs and alcohol. These students come from an underprivileged environment where previous generation(s) generally do not motivate children to pursue a higher career. We are also in the process of developing a 2nd year programme in conjunction with Blakestown Community School as part of yH’s expansion to younger generations. Part of this programme with Blakestown CS is to start with 2nd year and follow these students all the way up until they are finished their secondary school careers. All children deserve equality of opportunity and support to reach their full potential.