Croí na Gaillimhe Homework Club wins the Children and Youth Award

Croí na Gaillimhe Homework Club won the Children and Youth Award for their dedication and energy in working  with children in the Eglinton Hostel.

The establishment of the Croí na Gaillimhe  Homework Club has developed a new approach to educational support to those in the asylum process, including building the capacity of children to engage as equals in the mainstream educational process. In respect to parents it offers a new way of facilitating dialogue with and building capacity of parents to assist in devising new solutions to problems of educational disadvantage for themselves and their children.

Approximately 20 volunteers support the homework club by supervising homework groups and providing one-to-one homework assistance to children who need it.  The volunteers are very dedicated and committed and share their time, expertise, talents and experience on a daily basis.  They are experienced in working with children, assisting them with their educational needs.  Our volunteers are very reliable, which is essential when providing this necessary service.  They help build friendly relationships between children and parents living in direct provision with members of the community. 

Some of our volunteers are retired teachers which give the service an intergenerational aspect and our younger volunteers serve as good role models.  Our volunteers add to the good spirit and positive attitude to learning that is created in our homework club.