University of Limerick students were involved in the launch of Citi Ireland’s ‘Pathways to Progress’ partnership with international nonprofit organisation Enactus Ireland recently.
The Enactus UL team, and previous winners, helped launched the second year of the competition at Dogpatch Labs in Dublin.
The Pathways to Progress initiative is a partnership between Enactus Ireland and global financial services company Citi to address the issue of youth unemployment globally.
The Pathways to Progress initiative supports programs that help young people, ages 16 – 24, build an entrepreneurial mindset, acquire leadership, financial and workplace skills, through mentorship and funding.
Enactus UL were the overall winners of the Enactus and Citi Pathways to Progress Programme last year, receiving in total €4500 in seed funding and invaluable mentorship from Citi Bank for their project SparkED.
SparkED saw UL students partner with local primary and secondary schools to equip young people with interpersonal and leadership skills through a series of workshops and presentations, and train volunteers for Limerick’s Gateway to Education.
Catherine Hallinan, project leader of SparkEd said It was amazing to see the progress of projects that thrived under the mentorship of CITI mentors.
“We were over the moon to win on the day. It will allow SparkEd to spark the light for a brighter future” she said.
Maria Bennett, Public Relations Officer for Enactus UL further explained; “The Citi Pathways to Progress Programme equipped us with the tools and insight we needed to develop this programme in the Limerick area, with help from Citi Bank mentors and frequent Citi events we gain the knowledge to help our project reach its full potential, helping youth gain the skills they needed for a successful future.”
Outside of SparkEd, Enactus UL students are working with various organisations on projects such as Restart, helping integrate asylum seekers and refugees into the Irish community and the Planter, enabling communities in Malawi to plant crops in a more efficient and user friendly way.
To learn more about Enactus UL or get involved with their projects you can email enactusul2013@gmail.com or connect with them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ULenactus/
Molly Cantwell 
Daragh De Klein