An exploration of the value youth mentors attach to their role in Gaisce – The President’s Award Irish national self-development programme
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Published Version
Date
2020-09
Authors
Mangan, Philip J.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Community-Academic Research Links, University College Cork
Published Version
Abstract
Using Gaisce, The President’s Award, Ireland’s national youth achievement award
programme, this study explores the role of the youth mentor within a non-formal
learning environment. Drawing on quantitative survey data and semi-structured
qualitative interviews, the study examined the value which school-based President’s
Award Leaders (PALs) perceive is attached to the role they play in mentoring young
people through the Gaisce programme. In relation to their perceived value, 90% of the
teacher PALs surveyed reported that they believed that they ‘made a difference’ to the
lives of their Award students. It also emerged that a core source of affirmation for
PALs is the response of students who complete the programme and that of their
parents. Secondary value or affirmation comes from school management and, to a
lesser extent, from Gaisce. The high attrition rate in the programme was identified as
a significant theme - with 40% of participants failing to attain the Award. It was
apparent that such a high drop-out rate impacted significantly on the morale of PALs.
Although there was unanimous agreement amongst participants that they have no
desire to receive monetary or other rewards for the work they do for Gaisce, the
importance they place on feeling valued was highlighted by the general consensus that
they appreciate receiving recognition for the work they do. Gaisce PALs reported that
they spent less than 180 minutes per week engaging in mentor/mentee relationships and
had an average of 33 mentees each. Subsequently, many participants reported that
delivering on their role as a Gaisce PAL, in tandem with their duties as a teacher, proved
challenging in the context of time poverty. It was notable that PALs working in DEIS
(Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) schools believed that students and the
parents of students in their schools, who achieved the Award, place a high value on the
work they do and on the Gaisce programme - since they are less likely to have had the
opportunity to attain as many awards as students in more advantaged schools.
Description
Keywords
Gaisce , The President’s Award , National youth achievement award , DEIS , PALs
Citation
Mangan, P. J. (2020) An exploration of the value youth mentors attach to their role in Gaisce – The President’s Award Irish national self-development programme. Cork: Community-Academic Research Links, University College Cork.