Brandon Vickery

My name is Brandon and I was a CAN student when I attended Collinstown Park Community College. As a student, CAN provided me with after-school study sessions and subsidised trips to the Gaeltacht.

From as far as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a primary school teacher. This meant I was required to have a good level of Irish to go to college and study as a teacher. Coming into secondary school, I didn’t like Irish. I found it way too difficult and it stressed me out. In second year, CAN subsidised the Gaeltacht for us and I decided to give it a try. The Gaeltacht trips every summer are what helped me to develop the love I have for the Irish language. It allowed me to learn Irish in a more natural environment where I talked with people who were fluent in the language. If it was not for CAN who subsidised these trips, I may have decided not to go. These trips allowed me to develop the skills I needed to achieve my goals and study to be a primary school teacher.

Furthermore, CAN provided after-school study sessions for the Junior and Leaving Certificate years. I was aiming for high points in the Leaving Certificate which meant I needed to take my studying seriously. These study sessions provided a quiet space for me to focus and get my study done. I believe this attributed to how I achieved the high points I needed to study primary teaching.

Now, I have finished a four-year teaching degree and have started my first job. I am a fourth-class teacher in the primary school I attended as a child which fills me with immense joy and pride. The effect of the Gaeltacht trips and after-school study sessions provided to me by CAN helped me to achieve my goals and get where I am today.

Sevelina Kaite

My name is Sevelina Kaite and I am a former student of Deansrath CC. When I was in 6th year, due to finish school in a few months, I was not too sure what I wanted to do afterwards. I knew college wasn’t the right path for me and I was more interested in a hands-on job. An apprenticeship seemed like the right choice but I had no idea where to start. With CAN’s financial support I attended career events and an apprenticeship fair where I engaged with employers and accessed job opportunities. I thought this was brilliant as it let me research different careers and meet prospective employers face to face. CAN also provided access to valuable upskilling opportunities. CAN funded a Pre-Apprenticeship Preparation Programme and through this I was able to complete Manual Handling and SafePass training and undertake Ishihara Colour Vision testing. It also afforded me the opportunity to skill up on and practise aptitude tests to maximise my performance during recruitment and selection. I became fully familiar with all question types and was confident taking the assessments. Following this comprehensive preparation programme I applied for the ESB Networks apprenticeship and CAN fully supported me through the application process, and helped me to develop lifelong interview skills, so I could showcase my suitability. CAN’s support was invaluable. Their tips, advice, training, funding and supports were especially beneficial as they steered me in the right direction and set me up for success. Two years ago, I didn’t know where I wanted to be in life. Today I’m an Apprentice at ESB Networks and happier than ever. I’m forever grateful to the Clondalkin Access Network (CAN) for their help and support as they put me on the right path and helped me to realise my potential and to realise my career goal.

Erin Lovett

As a former Collinstown Park/CAN student, in first year I was presented with the opportunity to go to the Gaeltacht. I jumped at this opportunity, because without receiving a grant I otherwise would not have had the funds to go. I was presented with a grant for five consecutive years. Through this experience I developed a love for the Irish language and I met people from all over the country who I am still friends with today. I will be forever grateful to CAN for the experiences and opportunities to be sent to the Gaeltacht each year as the level of Irish that I acquired from my time in the Gaeltacht not only helped me with my Leaving Certificate but it has also helped me in my journey to become a primary school teacher. I am now in my final year in Maynooth University and my level of Irish had stood to me throughout my degree.

Victoria Kehinde

My name is Victoria Kehinde and I am a former student of St Kevin’s Community
College. Thanks to the Clondalkin Access Network (CAN) my secondary school was
able to provide afterschool study which I found extremely beneficial when preparing for the Leaving Certificate as I was someone who found it very hard to study outside school hours. This facilitated my onward progression after school. I am currently a Mental Health Nursing Student in DCU in my 3rd year and am so grateful to CAN for all the opportunities they provided me with.