REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE RECEPTION IN ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN FOR THE DUBLIN SCHOOLS BUSINESS
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT McALEESE AT THE RECEPTION IN ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN FOR THE DUBLIN SCHOOLS BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP MENTORING
Let me begin by saying how delighted I am to welcome you to the Áras today and to pay tribute to all those involved in the Dublin Schools Business Partnership Mentoring programme. There is a wonderful sense of energy in this room today and this only happens when it is filled with young people, with the vitality and curiosity and enthusiasm that each of you brings with you. I know that this visit brings to an end the 1999/2000 programme which involved a visit to Belfast and a treasure hunt in Dublin City Centre. I only hope your visit here will measure up to the other events.
I would like to congratulate the students here today for your decision to join the mentoring programme and for having the courage and perseverance to stay with it. There are so many other matters demanding your time and attention, your friends, your busy social lives – indeed, even with exams for some of you, your social lives are probably busier that many of us older people here today – how sad is that! Yet you kept with the programme - that took real commitment. I am sure you will reap the benefits of this programme a hundredfold over the next few years.
For any young person the prospect of leaving school and entering the adult world of work and responsibility is daunting. Its hard to know how you will succeed, how you will fit in, whether you will be able to make the transition and lead a happy and fulfilling life. This type of programme can help make that transition easier. By establishing links between schools, business and the community the Dublin Business Partnership is encouraging young people like yourselves to develop to your highest potential.
By bringing together volunteers from the business world, and individual pupils from the participating schools, the programme is developing relationships, allowing you the opportunity to discuss your fears and aspirations about your career choices and is enabling you to learn from the experiences- both business and life experiences of your mentors.
Building bridges’ is the theme I choose for my Presidency. Your programme is about building bridges, it is about extending the hand of friendship between adult mentors and young people, between professional businessmen and women and young people on the brink of adulthood.
This initiative is about opening windows of opportunity onto the world of learning, giving young people like yourselves a greater chance of access to what is rightfully yours. The initiative promotes inclusion and participation in education – equipping young people to play a full part in society in later life.
I want to commend those companies who have shown the foresight and initiative to become involved with this programme and especially the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and the Ulster Bank which has pioneered the initiative, and dedicated so much time and so much energy to making it a success. It’s great to see that this unique scheme looks set to expand in terms of both companies and schools in the future.
I also think a particular thanks is due to the mentors who have given of their time freely and who willingly shared experience and expertise with the students in their care. I am sure it has been a rewarding experience for you to play your part in influencing and enabling the young people here today to make choices in their future lives and careers.
I know that the schools involved have been incredibly supportive of the programme and that many of their staff in particular the coordinators on the Steering Committee have given of their time and energy in designing and implementing the programme.
Your assistance can make a real difference to the lives of the young people here today. You have given them your respect and trust and they have given you their dreams and hopes.
I hope you will have a most enjoyable time here this afternoon and that you enjoy the entertainment we have provided for you. I would like to thank our MC Stephen Holland, Greg Davey our pianist and Aisling Ennis who is playing the harp today. I hope you will bring home with you some happy memories of your time in the Áras.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go leir.