Introduction to the Aisling Project
Introduction to the Aisling Project
The Aisling Project is an after school intervention. They strive to provide support care and love for the children, as well as improving educational outcomes. It is a safe, fantastic, fun environment that allows children around the area to participate in activities they may not have gotten outside of school. The average child takes dance classes, is part of a football team or some sort of after school activity. For the children in the Aisling Project this is their opportunity to take place in a variety of activities.
The Aisling Project is an after school intervention. They strive to provide support care and love for the children, as well as improving educational outcomes. It is a safe, fantastic, fun environment that allows children around the area to participate in activities they may not have gotten outside of school. The average child takes dance classes, is part of a football team or some sort of after school activity. For the children in the Aisling Project this is their opportunity to take place in a variety of activities.
My experience
When I initially started in the project I did not know what to expect. I was apprehensive I would not enjoy it, and I would be out of my comfort zone. That I was but I enjoyed every second of it. I can now say it was a spectacular experience and I think it has changed me for the better. Before starting I can safely say I never knew about this project or the things it does for children in the Ballymun area. I feel I have started to look at things differently and even small thing I take for granted could mean so much to someone else.
The Aisling Project locations
There are five Aisling Projects in total. Shangan (where I was located), Poppintree, Woodhazel, Silogue and transition. Transition is the only project for secondary school students around Ballymun. Each project is located beside a school where the majority of the children come from. They are separate projects but come together regularly for activities and shows etc.
Surveys of literacy in primary schools serving disadvantaged communities show that literacy problems among pupils from disadvantaged background remains at about 27-33%, almost three times the national average.
DSFA, 2010
Educational Disadvantage as a whole:
"The failure of individuals to reach their full potential represents a loss of economic benefits in terms of their creative contribution through productive work. It may also represent a cost burden on the State in terms of unemployment as well as the increased risk of personal and social problems such as involvement in crime, drugs, prison, etc. Educational disadvantage is seen as unethical and unfair since it treats equal citizens in quite unequal ways." (Weir, Archer & Flanagan, 2004)
Educational Disadvantage (Frawley, 2014)
According to Frawley these are the factors to education disadvantage. From experience and witnessing it first-hand I would have to agree with what he is saying. A regular occurrence on a Monday afternoon would be, a child coming into the Aisling project famished from the weekend. Many children at home are not provided with standard meals. Their parents may not be there to provide the meals or they could be occupied with something else. This is an example of material deprivation.
References:
-Davison, J (2010) Education and Social Class (Chapter 5) in Arthur, J and Davies I (eds) The Routledge Education Studies Textbook. Oxon: Routledge.
-Frawley, D. (2014). Combating Educational Disadvantage Through Early Years and Primary School Investment. Irish Educational Studies , Vol. 33 , Issue 2 , pp. 155-171
-Weir, S. Archer, P & Flanagan, R. (2004). A REVIEW OF SCHOOL-BASED MEASURES AIMED AT ADDRESSING EDUCATIONAL DISADVANTAGE IN IRELAND. Educational Research Centre, Dublin.
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