Business volunteers Lucia McCauley and Emma Mc Carron from Bank of Ireland, Letterkenny and Ballybofey taught the Learn to Earn programme reaching over 250 Donegal students in six local schools Loreto Community School, Milford, Loreto College, Letterkenny, Mulroy College, Milford, Errigal College, Letterkenny, St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny and St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar. Lucia McCauley, a volunteer from Bank of Ireland Letterkenny, stated that “Learn to Earn is a fabulous programme. I really enjoy visiting the local schools and the engagement from the students always makes it more enjoyable. The financial skills they learn is most relevant to them now as it will be in years to come. Delivering the budgeting piece of the programme is where the students really get involved which makes it such fun.”
Ms. Mills Teacher, Loreto Community School Milford, emphasised the benefits of the programme for her students: “Thank you very much to Bank of Ireland for the resources and our volunteer Lucia McCauley who kept all students on task and fully engaged. The Learn to Earn is a very worthwhile programme for the students whereby they are able to develop their financial literacy through practical, modern and active tasks. The students were given the opportunity to explore the real life financial challenges that individuals encounter on a monthly basis. This sparked many discussions in our classroom. As a Home Economics teacher I found the skills the student learned throughout the programme are transferable across Home Economics, business and mathematics but particularly to their ever day life. “
Barry Gallagher, Manager of Bank of Ireland Letterkenny underlined that “Bank of Ireland Letterkenny is delighted to support our local schools in the Learn to Earn programme. We hope these skills can be brought with the students right throughout their financial lives. We are very grateful for the support that we have received from the schools in allowing us bring this initiative to the students.”