Photo of Dara Dowling receiving an educational grant

Shared Experiences from Previous winners of Our Educational Grants

We are now taking applications for our 2022 Educational Grants. Our grants are designed for members going into post-second level education and are open to members with bleeding disorders, as well as to carriers and immediate family members.

We want to share a few personal experiences from those who have been successful previously and how the grants have helped them in their academic journey!

 

aoife o’Connor

Hi there, my name is Aoife O’Connor and I’m a first year Home Economics and Religious Education student teacher in St. Angela’s College, Sligo. I’m honoured to be awarded the 2021 Margaret King Educational Grant by the I.H.S.

This contribution is deeply appreciated as I’m from Dublin so I will be using the funds to go towards my travel expenses, and essential course equipment required, such as a culinary set, a culinary uniform and a sewing machine.

This year has brought many changes in my life including the move out of home for College, to new surroundings and people that has taken a lot of adjusting to. It has always been my dream to be a Home Economics teacher and I’m very grateful to have the support of the Irish Haemophilia Society backing me all the way. I hope in the future I can give back to the Society for what they have done for me and inspire young members to follow their dreams, whatever they may be.

Once again I would like to thank the I.H.S. for this award.

 

Dara Dowling

Hi, I’m Dara Dowling and I’m a final year Business Studies student in Dublin City University specialising in Human Resource Management. I have been involved with the Society since I was born and progressed from the creche through to the youth group and decided to begin volunteering in 2017. I enjoy volunteering as I remember all the fun I had attending the conferences growing up and hope that I can give that experience to other members who are going through the programmes. I would encourage anyone who is considering volunteering to do so as I have made friends for life and it has brought me so many amazing opportunities. The past two years of the pandemic have been difficult for everyone and covid has highlighted how much I enjoy attending the conferences and events hosted by the I.H.S.

This academic year I was awarded the Margaret King Educational Grant. The grant helped me cover the costs of text-books which can be costly at 3rd level. It also allowed me to update my technology as college this year is hybrid meaning many of my classes are still online. Additionally, it covered the costs of printing my assignments and slides and other general expenses throughout the year.

The grant helped me cover the costs of text-books… It also allowed me to update my technology…

Dara Dowling

I would recommend others to apply for the grant as I found the application process easy and seamless as there is plenty of information available on the website that is very useful when filling in your application. If there is anything you are unsure of or have any questions you can reach out to the wonderful staff who I’m sure would be more than happy to help with your queries.

I would like to thank the Society for awarding me with this grant as it has allowed me to focus on final year without the worry of the financial costs surrounding it. I am looking forward to attending another conference and returning to volunteering, something I have greatly missed during the pandemic.