Students from Scoil Chriost Ri, Portlaoise have developed an innovative website which aims to find jobs for Laois students.
The aim behind the website, www.deeppockets.ie, is to find both paid opportunities for students and also voluntary work which will assist them in completing Gaisce or John Paul Award programmes.
The idea is to connect employers in Laois with secondary students in the county, keen to find employment.
The website is part of the Young Social Innovators (YSI) competition. Before mid term three team members presented in the YSI DEN in Athlone and the judges were so impressed they offered them funding, a marketing workshop from a lecturer in Athlone Institute and a visit from YSI staff.
On Wednesday the budding entrepreneurs participated in the Speak out element of the competition in Lyrath Estate Kilkenny on Wednesday and spoke in front of a packed hall of their student peers.
Guest speaker at the event was Kilkenny manager Brian Cody who stressed the importance of speaking out about issues important to you.
The industrious students have been going around Portlaoise delivering flyers to promote their venture. The 25 students had to visit businesses in the town and explain their venture to business people.
“The whole experience has really helped to bring the students out of themselves and some of the projects brought them out of their comfort zone,” teacher Anne Byrne explained.
She believes the involvement will really stand to them. “The experience from this is something they will carry with them,” Ms Byrne said.
She added that the projects have helped them to focus on goals and will teach them skills that they can use when they leave school.
And they are not finished just yet, and will pitch their idea to Downtown Portlaoise on Monday night in The Pantry, to see what the local business people make of their business venture.
“It will open the door and allow the business people to engage with the students and talk to the students one to one who are looking for work. It will also help the business people find students to work for them,” Ms Byrne said.
