Students making a difference

A NORTHSIDE disability organisation has recognised local secondary school students who promote inclusion and tackle disadvantage in their school and communities.

The inaugural Prosper Fingal Making a Difference Awards were recently presented to students at five secondary schools – Portmarnock Community School, Skerries Community College, Fingal Community College, Swords, Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan, and St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rush. 

Prosper Fingal established the awards as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations taking place this year. The initiative will run annually with the winning students selected by a process within schools.

The selected students at Portmarnock Community School were the members of the Homelessness Committee: Samantha Cole, Aoibheann Crean-Lynch, Aaron Cullen, Ailise Dalton, Sara de Carolis, Adam Doyle, Diana Filip, Ava Fitzpatrick O'Donovan, Jordan Hollywood, Jacqueline Lane, Will Mulligan, Caitlin Murphy, Caoimhe O'Reilly, Zach Whelan, Jade Woods and Lily Yu.

These Transition Year students coordinated with local food providers to have leftover food donated to a soup run in Dublin city centre. Among other activities, they organised two huge collections during the year involving the school community, local businesses and past pupils to support a Halloween and Christmas party for over 1,000 children living in emergency accommodation. 

Prosper Fingal service-user in Portmarnock Eoin Hall presented the award at the school’s Transition Year graduation evening. 

At Fingal Community College, Swords, the winners were Transition Year students Barry Laffey, Conor Fox, Alexandra Starbuck, Eve Mongey, Vilte Bivainyte and Karolina Czajkowska, who demonstrated great leadership skills in the school’s Peer Mentoring Programme. 

Rachel O’Connell, a Prosper Fingal service-user who completed her Junior Cert in the school in 2003, made the award presentation.

At Skerries Community College, the winner was fifth year student Liam Byrne. Prosper Fingal service-user Megan Guildea, who is well-known locally for her friendly demeanour, presented the award.

According to the school, Liam was selected based on a number of qualities, including his ability to lift morale and his consideration for the wellbeing of others.

The award recipient at St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rush, was sixth year student Jack Hussey. Prosper Fingal service-user Martina Kelly, who has collaborated with St Joseph’s Transition Year students in respect of an annual play they stage together, presented the award.

The school described Jack as a born leader who is “unbelievably considerate” of others. 

“Jack was a core participant in the TY Prosper programme where his generosity, inclusivity and caring personality really came to light,” the school said.

That same year, he became an active member of the school's St Vincent de Paul committee.