DCU Institute of Education Students Selected for Prestigious Washington in Ireland Program

Emma Hayes is from Thurles in Co. Tipperary and is currently studying a Bachelor of Education in Religion and History. In future, she would like to teach politics and society as a subject at second level. Emma’s interest in education stems from her passion for helping others, giving back to society and being an active citizen. She believes in fostering an understanding of a wide range of perspectives and cultures. 

Róisín O’Gara is from Drogheda in Co. Louth, and made a significant pivot to primary teaching after four years of working as a Management Consultant with Deloitte. While working there, she was an active volunteer and as part of Deloitte’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme she was involved in a Dragon’s Den initiative, where primary school children in an inner city school in Dublin, pitched their business ideas to those volunteering from the company. 

She also volunteered teaching immigrant school children English and gave Irish and English grinds to leaving cert students for An Síol, a charity based in Stoneybatter in Dublin 8. These experiences inspired Róisín to become a teacher and led to her enrolling on the Professional Masters of Education for primary teaching at the DCU Institute of Education. 

Emma decided to apply for WIP as its core values are service and leadership, which are reflected in her volunteering and active citizenship. At DCU she is the Events Manager for the Raising and Giving (RAG) Society, raising over €11,000 this year for the Irish Cancer Society and housing charity Respond. These funds were raised through initiatives such as, a white-collar boxing match on campus. She is also Chair of the non-aligned DCU Politics Society, which provides an impartial platform for students to debate and discuss societal issues. 

'When you look at WIP, its core values are service and leadership which is something that I really want to bring forward in my life. Looking after people, particularly those who are disadvantaged can help transform lives. I’ve been very lucky to go to college and I didn’t want to rest on my laurels while I was here in the big smoke! I want to give back as much as I can, so WIP really does bring that. I suppose I have a big interest in politics and I hope to go on and teach politics and society.'

Róisín grew up in a political household, with her father serving in a senior communications role for the Labour party during the 2011 - 2016 Government. She believes the experience of growing up in a household where politics was part of the daily discussion, her volunteering and sense of purpose from active citizenship and her role as a teacher inspired her to apply for WIP. Róisín is also very keen to get a better understanding of how policy is formed and decisions are made at a political level; 

‘I do think applying for WIP was a culmination of growing up in a political household, my volunteering work and being a primary school teacher. When you are teaching and volunteering you get to know the people on the ground, but you are very separate from who is making the higher level decisions. Even things like who designs the curriculum and who decides things like what resources DEIS schools get?  How are the policies on school lunches formed? All of this is above my understanding at the moment, so I'm very interested in how policy decisions are made and how this feeds into school life.

Also my thinking with WIP is how I can bring that into my [teaching] practice, and gain a better understanding of how those systems work and how lobbying works? I believe this experience will better enable me to understand the factors that are contributing to school life and the kids I am teaching.'

Emma and Róisín are part of a wider group of 30 students from universities across Ireland and Northern Ireland who will spend eight weeks from June to July in Washington, with a short stint in New York. They will live with a host family during their stay in Washington and their roles will be revealed closer to their departure date. 

Commenting on what they are most looking forward to, Emma said; 

‘I think I am most looking forward to standing on Capitol Hill and being part of it. I think it will be good to observe power and it is important to understand how these institutions work, to see how policy is changed and influenced.

I suppose I am just really grateful, and excited to be going to Washington and helping people reach their potential and also absorbing the "Washington environment" there.’  

Róisín concluded;

‘I’d say I’m hoping to get a new perspective, I’m a bit older than the rest of the class, so I have good life experience and perspective [to bring to the program]. I know how to work in an office and I don’t need to brush up on Powerpoint skills or anything! But what I am looking forward to is learning from my peers and having my views challenged as well, and figuring out what I can bring back to the classroom, when I begin teaching in September.’ 

The Washington Ireland Program (WIP) is an island of Ireland initiative that seeks to inspire and develop leaders through personal development, policy debate and community service. It aims to support leaders committed to building a future of peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland and Ireland. Four DCU students will participate in the Washington Ireland Program this summer, which includes the two students profiled above from the DCU Institute of Education. 

Read about DCU students going to Washington this summer as part of the WIP Class 2023 

For more on the Washington Ireland Programme