During the summer, five young people from the Home Education Network (HEN) received their Gaisce Awards in a ceremony at Gaisce’s office in Phoenix Park, with four earning Bronze Awards and one receiving Silver.
HEN is a nationwide, voluntary, non-profit organisation supporting families who choose to home educate or follow alternative learning pathways. The young people were supported on their Gaisce journey by President’s Award Leader (PAL), Deryck Tormey, who guided them through the process.
While around 85% of Gaisce Participants come from traditional schools, this group shows how the Award supports young people in all learning environments, including non-formal education, through a self-directed approach.
Their PAL, Deryck, noted the additional effort required from the group: “Without the structure of a school group or weekly check-ins, they really had to motivate themselves and shape their own journeys. That independence and drive really came through.”
They took full responsibility for planning and arranging the Adventure Journey themselves. The group chose Carlingford Adventure Centre as the location, and together they created an experience that was both physically challenging and deeply rewarding.
Taking on the Adventure Journey as a small group brought its own advantages. “With fewer people, there’s less room to hide,” said Bronze Awardee Max O’Brien. “You either commit to the experience or get left behind – and that pushed me out of my comfort zone in a good way.”
He described the moment they reached the summit of their hike: “We went up this beautiful mountain, so high we were nearly in the clouds. Reaching the top and looking back down gave me a real sense of achievement.”
Deryck was particularly impressed by how each young person interpreted the Gaisce challenge areas in their own way, bringing creativity and relevance to their personal goals.
Silver Awardee Sophia Mac Lochlainn reflected on how Gaisce inspired her beyond the Award itself: “What I did in Gaisce as my volunteering, I now do in my everyday – coaching under 8s and doing Cool Camps. I just enjoyed it and kept going.”
This group’s journey proves that Gaisce is more than a school-based programme. It’s a challenge open to every young person in Ireland aged 14 to 25 – one that can be shaped to fit their own lives and aspirations.
Congratulations to Max, Penny, Grace, Muire and Sophia on this inspiring achievement. We look forward to seeing what comes next as they continue their Gaisce journey!