REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE LAUNCH OF STUDY ‘POWERFUL HOPES’ ON BEHALF OF THE BROTHERS’
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE LAUNCH OF STUDY ‘POWERFUL HOPES’ ON BEHALF OF THE BROTHERS’ JUSTICE GROUP
Is cúis mhór áthais dom bheith anseo libh inniu ag an ócaid specialta seo. Tá mé buíoch díbh as an chuireadh agus an fáilte fíorchaoin a chur sibh romham.
I would like to thank Br. Madigan for the kind invitation to join you this afternoon to launch the ‘Powerful Hopes’ study on behalf of the Brothers’ Justice Group.
We are here today because each of us harbours powerful hopes for the younger generation. For some, this is a good time to be young and Irish, the world is literally their oyster, they can access opportunities both in Ireland and abroad which enables them to live their dreams, enjoy their youth, to achieve their potential and to blossom into fulfilled adulthood.
But others are not having such a good time. Our concern is that they are finding it difficult to access our educational system, to discover the wealth of support and help that is available for them to unlock their potential, to realise their individual gifts and talents so that they too can discover their place in the world.
This study provides a valuable contribution to the overall store of information that exists on how best we can provide opportunities for our young people to make best use of our education system and to realise their potential. There can be so many strains and stresses on young people from peer pressure, parental pressure and all the everyday pressures of growing up, making decisions, taking responsibility, trying to find their way in the world. Often they can feel isolated and misunderstood.
Sometimes it can be hard for young people to believe that they matter, that they truly count. That is why the work of groups such as the Brothers Justice Group is so important. Without this work, without the will and hearts to do it, there would be a gap - a place for young people to sink, for lives to be lost. With the work, with the help and understanding of their schools and communities, young lives can be turned around to face a promising and hope filled future.
I would like to congratulate the Brothers Justice Group for their dedicated commitment to the young people of the inner city. From your vast experiences and local knowledge you know that some young people need support from teachers, parents and within the community to benefit fully from their experiences of school. You also realise that often parents need support and encouragement if they are to help their children with school work and with making career decisions. The focus of your study is on how best the abilities of young people can be developed and fostered and how we as a society can best equip them for the future.
We are grateful to you for your willingness to share your knowledge and information and your findings with us. You know that in sharing knowledge nothing is taken away from you but a huge new resource is added to what is available to all of us.
There are many worthwhile developments already in place within our education system that are designed to identify pupils who need extra care and attention. The Home School Community Liaison scheme is a very successful initiative which encourages parental involvement in their children’s learning. I have visited many schools in the Breaking the Cycle initiative and I would happily attest to the wonderful supportive environment in which the children who benefit from this scheme are educated, to the way in which their self confidence is encouraged and to their sheer enjoyment of school. The information provided in the study will assist the many bodies and groups who are involved in the education system to develop strategies and initiatives to help and support students who might otherwise not fully avail of educational opportunities.
I congratulate everybody who has worked hard to bring this study to fruition: in particular Scott Boldt the author and the many contributors to the study, teachers, parents, community workers and the students themselves. I would also like to congratulate the students who contributed the drawings for the publication and also the students whose work is on exhibit today.
It gives me great pleasure to launch this most interesting and informative study.