Kids’ homework club in a class of its own

A ‘homework club’ for asylum-seeker children living in direct provision has seen noticeable improvements since its establishment, but is appealing for more volunteers to continue its good work.

The St Vincent de Paul, through its Croí na Gaillimhe Resource Centre, set up the club seven months ago to help children better integrate into the Irish education system.

“We noticed through parents coming in that there was little work being done for these children, who had difficulty getting schoolbooks and doing homework,” says Croí na Gaillimhe’s manager Loretta Needham.

“Children may have been pulled out of schools in their home country and here they enter into a completely different curriculum with a different language.”

The club, which is run solely by volunteers, was set up through the Maureen O’Connell fund [the proceeds of the sale of O’Connell’s in Eyre Square] and runs in the former Eglinton Hotel in Salthill four days a week.

“The Eglinton has very kindly donated the space to the homework club, as there isn’t a proper place for children to study or do their schoolwork.

“Some may be in a single room with as many as six people and would need to have great concentration to be able to study in those conditions.”

The club currently has 23 volunteers, ranging in age from early 20s to late 70s, who are signed up until the end of term.

Many are former teachers who have used their years of experience to help students in need of educational support.

“Teachers have indicated there has been a noticeable improvement in the students’ academic performance,” says Cabrini McDaid, coordinator of the homework club.

“Perhaps even more importantly, we’ve seen an increase in the children’s self-esteem.”

On average 25 children and young adults ranging from ages five to 17 attend the club Monday to Thursday from 3-7pm.

A formal survey of teachers in schools the children attend has been undertaken, and information will be collated over the summer to gain a better understanding of the impact the homework club is having on their progress.

About 300 asylum seekers from Nigeria, Albania, Pakistan, Iran and other countries are housed in the city at the Eglinton Hotel and the Great Western direct provision centre in Eyre Square.

The homework club is now actively seeking volunteers for the new term in September and would particularly welcome current or retired teachers.

Anyone interested in volunteering is urged to contact Croí na Gaillimhe at 091 895203 or by emailing info@croinagaillimhe.ie.