Suas soc’s mentoring programme returns

After their successful run in the first semester, the DCU Suas society, along with the Access Office has announced the return of their mentoring program.

The program, which aims to help 8-12 year olds in disadvantaged communities, brings schoolchildren from the Ballymun area to the DCU campus on a weekly basis for extra help and support for their homework.

This semester 25 schoolchildren can take part in the Aisling Project which puts the children into homework groups supported by a student volunteer.

“We have had great feedback from the student mentors, a lot of whom will be mentoring again this semester,” says Ciara O’Gara, a tutor from last semester. “There are endless opportunities for mentors to become more involved not only in the programme but also in the society and organisation itself.”

Dermot Heslin, mentoring co-ordinator of the Suas organisation, says that the two main aims of the programme is to give the children something to aspire to by having tutorials in a college environment and to create a sense of teamwork by taking part in sporting activities.

According to recent research, nearly half of Ballymun schoolchildren leave school at 15 or earlier. By holding classes in DCU, the aim of this programme is to give the children an increased aspect of their education and give a view of college life.

Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Suas at mentor@suas.ie.