Carlow students paired with professional women as part of new mentorship programme

The programme has been created by The Shona Project, a non-profit organisation which strives to create a support system for Irish girls as they navigate their way through their teenage years.

The businesses announced as taking part in the first year of the programme are Allianz, CBRE, Fitzgerald Power, McCann Fitzgerald, Salesforce, &Smyth Creative Communications and VHI. These companies will supply a total of 26 professional mentors who were paired with a teenage girl from schools around the country until the end of this school year.

Among the girls taking part in the pilot programme are Doina Besleaga, Lily O'Connor, Isobel Peelo, and Millie Gordon from Presentation College in Co Carlow.

"Research on the benefits of mentoring has shown that it can result in better academic performance, better school attendance, positive attitudes, decreased likelihood of initiating illegal drug and alcohol use and decreased violent behaviour," explained Tammy Darcy, founder and CEO of The Shona Project.

"It has also been linked in studies to social-emotional development benefits, improvements in youth perceptions of parental relationships, and better prospects for moving on to higher education.

"The benefits and outcomes of mentoring align perfectly with our mission, so it only seemed natural for us to develop this programme now and we are honoured to have such wonderful Irish businesses come on board with us in this first year of the initiative.

"Our aim is to continue to grow the mentorship programme and continue to match inspirational professional role models with girls to help support them through their teenage years."

The development of the initiative was supported by three leading Irish businesswomen, Oonagh O'Hagan, Lucy Gaffney and Eva Pau who funded the research and refinement of the concept.

This programme will run across a nine-month period, which entitles the teenage girls to seven sessions with their assigned mentor. Each mentor will be provided with the training and tools to help provide the best possible outcomes for each mentee.

Comeragh College, Tipperary; Presentation Secondary School, Waterford; Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny and Coláiste Mhuire Askeaton, Limerick will also be taking part in the pilot programme.