“Within our dreams and aspirations, we find our opportunities” - Sugar Ray Leonard
The Aspire Project aims to support people in South County Dublin to explore their aspirations and discover the pathways they can take to achieve them.
We achieve this through Career Talks, University Visits, Tech tasters, pre apprenticeship programmes, family learning programmes, STEM activities and events.
Aspire connects our community through the coordination of free and accessible programmes for adults, development of innovative projects and programmes that provide children and young people with real sources of inspiration and discovery.
Once you are inspired you can begin to aspire. Our aspirations are moulded by our self-understanding, experience, options, and environment.
Through our project Inspiring the Future Ireland children and young people meet and talk with volunteer role models in their communities, learn about different jobs, discover why they love doing them and what itis actually like to work in their sector.
Volunteers share their personal stories about the various pathways to employment they took, challenges they faced along the way and most importantly how they overcame them.
Working in collaboration with local schools we support students as they plan towards their desired futures. We offer facilitated visits to Colleges, Universities and Further Education institution, campus tours, talks from current students showing them the ins and outs of day-to-day life studying a subject.
We aim to address the questions young people have around the different options available, how to achieve their goals and find the path that best suits their skills and personality. We offer worksite visits, demonstrative workshops hands-on employability skills development and practical industry certified training through our Lifelong Learning community education programmes.
With the support of our corporate partners, we offer practical skills development and support like C.V. preparation and interview techniques, standing out against competition, and confidence and communication skills all aimed at inspiring young people as they transition from school to further education, training, and employment.
Discovery
With the support of the Research Ireland, the ASPIRE Project offers STEM focussed programmes designed for children, young people, and adults.
We live in a world in which we all have daily interactions with Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, many current and future jobs are related to STEM subjects. We want to be part of empowering our communities to develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities through hands-on learning programmes to confidently use Tech in their everyday lives.
Aspire Collaborates with industry creating opportunities for children to explore their curiosity and young people to explore careers in STEM.
Let's Get Digital is a project funded by Microsoft and South Dublin County Partnership through SICAP that aims to address the digital divide and increase participation in the tech sector employment for individuals from disadvantaged areas in Tallaght and Clondalkin.
Let's Get Digital (LGD) offers community led initiatives to support digital skills development.
These initiatives cater to different target groups and their specific needs, ranging from unemployed adults and young people to individuals looking to upskill or reskill in digital technology
Simone Mccann comes to the role of Inspiring the Future Ireland officer as a previous volunteer with ITFI having worked previously in regulatory affairs in a large direct selling cosmetic company and most recently as a qualified financial advisor.
Simone is committed to building strong partnerships that enhance the framework of the programme, making it both sustainable and responsive to the needs of all those involved.
Dr Grace Lawlor
Let's Get Digital Project Worker
Grace has worked in technology and education for the past 15 years.
She is a qualified primary school teacher who has also worked in 3rd level education and the corporate sector with Microsoft Ireland.
Her Ph.D work with Trinity College Dublin explored how to support young women to pursue pathways in computer science and saw the establishment of the CodePlus programme. Grace is passionate about technology as a tool to transform learning at all ages and levels.
Sophie Matabaro
Aspire Project Lead
Sophie Matabaro comes to the role of Aspire Team Lead, having worked in education for the past 16 years. She has previously held roles in top universities in Ireland developing community outreach and youth programmes that align with national, and EU polices in the areas of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Maths), Social Impact (Biodiversity & Sustainability), and Health (Mental Health and Sport).
Sophie is passionate about developing and leading educational programmes that are both accessible for young people and elevates them on their journey to successful a career path.
Doing the programme took away that fear for me and gave me confidence.
Digital Skills Participant
I enjoyed hearing about peoples journeys & what they did before their current job because it shows you don't need to choose immediately.
4th year female student
It allowed the children to get an understanding that there are many different ways to achieve a career they dream of.
Teacher
Best bit - Engaging with the 6th class pupils. They are a lovely bunch and asked some really good questions.
Volunteer
My favourite part of the placement was meeting people who work in the establishment and learn what it’s like to work there.
Student
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