Trinity’s branch of global social entrepreneurship organisation Enactus is launching its Hope Project initiative this coming week.
The project will bring two homeless people who the Simon Community works with into Trinity to coach two student football teams throughout the second term. Developed with the Simon Community and run by student members of Trinity Enactus, the project hopes to develop the skills of the coaches, give them a source of income and some experience. It also hopes to improve the skills and fitness levels of students.
The proposed coaches are members of the Dublin Simon Community Football Team, which regularly competes in the charity-run Streets League. One of the coaches has also represented Ireland in Oslo, Norway at this year’s 15th Homeless World Cup.
The training sessions for the two student teams will take place on the football courts outside Botany Bay on Tuesdays from 4 to 5pm and Thursdays from 2 to 3pm, so anyone available for training at these times next semester is encouraged to sign up and join in! Each session will charge €3 per player, with all proceeds going directly towards the team coach. At the end of the nine weeks of training, on Friday, March 23rd, a final fundraising football match will see the two teams go head to head on the Trinity pitches. The aim is to involve as many societies and local businesses as possible and raise money towards the funding of the Simon Community Football Team.
Enactus will have stands across campus, in the Arts Block and the Hamilton, throughout the week for people to register their interest in participating from Monday until Friday. Anyone unavailable to reach the stands is also encouraged to register their interest by email.
For anyone unable to commit their time to the project – or those who aren’t particularly athletic – collection buckets will be at each stand to raise money towards maintaining the project, with the aim of reducing the weekly players’ fees. All students are encouraged to come along and donate to the initiative and raise awareness about the issue of homelessness.
