We launched our school mentoring programme in conjunction with Business in the Community last year. With 11 mentors from the IAPI membership and 11 students from Holy Child Community School in Sallynoggin, the programme has seen IAPI members support these students throughout 5th year and into their final Leaving Cert year.
The Student Mentoring Programme aims to provide:
- Additional support to help a student through their final years of school
- Career path investigation
- A sounding board for career ideas
- Someone to listen and help with skill development, CVs and mock interviews
- An opportunity to communicate on an adult level with professionals in the working world
- Enhancement of self-esteem
- Practical awareness of the workplace
Owen McGowan, the students' Career Guidance Counsellor has told us that over half of the students have made enquires and expressed an interest in CAO courses that will lead them to a career in Advertising.
"I know they are quite a group but there were a few of them there yesterday who are applying for courses that will lead them into the industry". In addition to this success, we were recently made aware of a collaboration between one of the students and one of the agencies taking part.
"I just forwarded on an image that our mentoring student Daniel created in collaboration with Ciara and Liam from Dentsu. They created a Tote bag, and you can see Daniel's design printed on the front of the bag. Brilliant programme and great to see."
It is amazing to see progress and results coming out of an initiative such as this and we would like to thank both students and staff from Holy Child C.C., Business in the Community and most especially our members who have taken part in the programme.
This cohort of students will graduate from the mentoring programme in March to allow them to devote their time and effort into their exam studies. We will be launching another school mentoring programme in 2022, so please keep an eye out for this announcement.
