Learning On The Streets (LOTS)
Learning on the Streets (LOTS) is a pilot initiative designed to work creatively with a group of young Traveller boys from Labre Park in Ballyfermot who are at-risk of disengaging from mainstream education.

The Programme, which commenced in 2005, arose out of the work of the Labre Park After-Schools Programme, which as operated for the past 5 years, under the management of Exchange House. The purpose of the work is to support the children, their families and their Schools, in mainstream education. There are approx. 45 families living on the site. In the history of Labre Park, no boys had transferred successfully to second level education, and as a result they have missed out on education, literacy and vocational training.

The aim of the Lots project is to facilitate transfer from primary to secondary school. In order to take part, all boys must be enrolled with the Department of Education and be between the ages of 11 and 15. The programme is funded by the Dormant Accounts through Pobal, run by Exchange House and evaluated and tracked by the National College of Ireland. There are around 12 boys in the 10 – 13 yr group, for whom we hope the project will mean staying on in school, instead of leaving after Confirmation, as all boys there have done, in the past.

The Summer programme is based on outdoor activities such as rock climbing, camping and fishing to engage the boys’ natural learning potential. It will include a school-term personalised learning programme and an integrated community-school mentoring system. Driving Licence Theory Test training is included in the Programme for the older boys. So far, the project has been warmly received by the boys and their families. The current LOTS programme is due to finish in March 2007.