IYF Heroes
Ann
Because of the support of the Irish Youth Foundation children like Ann have a chance
Ann is an ambitious and talented 12-year-old girl who lives in Ballymun and attends the Aisling After School Project. Every afternoon she comes here after school to have her dinner and do her homework. She loves coming to the project where she and her friends spend time together in a safe and nurturing environment. The Aisling Project, like many similar projects in disadvantaged areas, provides a safe place for young people to go between school and going home. The project awards stars for values like respect, friendliness, attendance and eating properly. These stars count towards going away on activity trips. Ann beams when she tells us about the trip she earned when she got all her stars. She went on an outdoor activity weekend in Co. Down, beside the mountains and the sea. She is a middle child and has one brother and one sister and jokes it is sometimes hard being in the middle as she does not get so much attention. She lives with her nana most of the week, not far from the Aisling Project.
During the year the children do different activities and tasks. Most recently, Ann had to build a robot as part of a team. Her team won and they shared the prize equally among them. She earnestly smiles at us and reinforces "it's important to share isn't it".
Ann has a brightness that shines through in the hardship of an area where drugs, alcohol addiction and poverty play a huge part in the lives of those who live there.
