Soar Inspired by Jim Stynes’ Reach Foundation of Melbourne, Soar provides workshops to young people aged 12-18 across the island of Ireland; including young women aged 15-18 through their “Stripped” programme as they are at a transitional period in their lives. Soar facilitates workshops within schools with the potential of a follow up programme. The Ireland Funds Australia’s support will allow Soar to: • Create an environment in which girls can explore themselves wholly and without judgement • Enable girls to develop the tools to improve self-confidence and emotional well-being • Reach 1,320 young women in 22 schools across Ireland. connect 2017 • 105 Suas Literacy Support Programme Suas Literacy Support Programme partners with designated disadvantaged (DEIS) schools across Ireland to deliver literacy support to 8 to 14 year olds who are struggling with reading and writing – the building block of almost all future achievements. Our continued support, including that of the Australian Young Leaders, will allow Suas to; • Deliver at least 143 Literacy support projects • Work at the coalface with 1,716 struggling learners • Train up to 1,760 mentors to deliver 1:1 support Integrate My School, Integrated Education Fund Currently only 7% of schools are integrated in Northern Ireland despite polls showing 80% support for integration. All schools in Northern Ireland are entitled to become inte- grated, provided a majority of the school community democratically votes in favor of it. Launched in February by the iconic Northern Irish actor Liam Neeson, Integrate My School is a one-stop-shop digital platform containing all the information parents require. The platform explains the process of transformation succinctly and allows parents to register their school for it. Transformation is the next exciting and important step in the integrated education movement and we are proud to be part of that. Solas Project The unique point of difference of the Solas Project is its long-term, intensive intervention. The ‘Step Up’ teen mentoring programme provides 1:1 support to 60 students transitioning from primary to secondary education. Solas see a significant amount of young people dis-engaged with their education in secondary school resulting in them leaving with next to no qualifications. Funding will allow additional places in “Step Up” which currently has a number of young people on the waiting list. Science Gallery Melbourne The University of Melbourne has secured the rights to Australia’s only node in the highly successful Science Gallery International network, founded at Trinity College in Dublin. Inspired by the innovation at the inaugural Science Gallery in Dublin, The Ireland Funds Australia are delighted to partner with Science Gallery Melbourne for their first pop-up exhibition, BLOOD as their official opening night partner in August of 2017. When it opens in 2020, Science Gallery will be a public-facing, dynamic and engaging space to inspire young adults into the STEM workforce. With 75% of future jobs in Australia expected to require STEM qualifications, Science Gallery programmes will spark the minds of tomorrow’s innovators. AIEF The Australian Indigeneous Education Foundation is a private sector led non-profit organisation focused on empower- ing Indigenous children to build a future through quality education and careers at Australian schools, universities and companies. Together with the AIEF, The Ireland Funds Australia is committed to making a combined contribution of $800,000 for 80 Indigenous scholarship places at four leading Australian Schools by 2020. Go Foundation The Go Foundation in Australia was founded by former Sydney Swans AFL players Adam Goodes and Michael McLoughlin. Go partners with the AIEF to offer day scholarships to students in public schools. This project is proudly sup- ported by the Australian Young Leaders’ fundraising efforts. Trinity College Dublin The Ireland Funds Australia received a donor advised grant from Ruth Tarlo for the third Hyman Tarlo Scholarship in Law for 2017/2018 at the Law School of Trinity College. 2017 PROJECTS SUPPORTED BY THE IRELAND FUNDS AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIANEWS AUSTRALIA AROUND THE WORLD