The Irish American Partnership (the Partnership) paid its first visit to the PMVT Learning Centre – Carline as part of a wider trip to Ireland this week. The group, which consisted of board members, staff and key donors, is visiting projects they support across Ireland to learn about the impact of their investments.

In early 2021, the Partnership announced a $1 million five-year investment to expand and enhance Peter McVerry Trust’s educational offerings for homeless and at-risk youth. Peter McVerry Trust operates two specialist Learning Centres in Dublin. The PMVT Learning Centre – Carline in Lucan and PMVT Learning Centre – CMS in the south inner city.

PMVT Learning Centres work with young people who cannot access mainstream education due to a number of reasons such as educational, emotional, social or behavioural challenges. The centres aim to enable young people to recognise the positive impact education has on their future development.

The visiting group heard about the day-to-day work of the Learning Centres, the impact on students and plans to expand the centres in the future – including the construction of a 5 a-side all-weather pitch at the PMVT Learning Centre – Carline.

Pat Doyle, CEO of PMVT, said; “It’s fantastic to welcome the Irish American Partnership to our Learning Centre today to show them, in-person, the impact of their investment. Targeted investment in education is a crucial aspect of homelessness prevention, particularly among vulnerable children.

“The Partnership’s investment is hugely valuable to continuing our work with young people and empowering them to see the positive impact education can have on their future.”