Team JTBCS – John the Baptist Community School

Why as a team did you choose to focus on this challenge?

We chose this challenge as it is a problem that could become relevant to us in the future as we progress through college and may have to move away from home and face full independence and we would like to provide support for people who may be in trouble due to this now and in the future as it may pay us or people close to us back in the future.

What do you know now about the challenge that you didn't know before?

From our research we learned that nearly 70% of people who receive a college degree leave in debt due to bills, loans and accommodation. We also learned that 1351 people between 20 and 30 years of age are homeless which showed a lot of young people are on the streets due to hidden poverty in college bills. As of January 2023 11754 people are homeless or are relying on emergency shelter in Ireland.

What have you learnt about your Hero?

Our Hero is called Frank he is 15 years old and his parents are unable to keep up with their rent, he is anxious that he and his family may get evicted and end up on the street.

If you could improve one thing for your Hero what would that be?

I would improve how worried he is about if they end up on the street as he is suffering mentally because of this.

Do you have any ideas for a potential solution? No matter how raw, share them with your Mentors for feedback.

Our rough idea is to provide a service to young people who may be struggling at home mentally or other ways and to make them feel better about themselves, we could also direct them towards the various institutions already set up to help keep them off the street and we could give them advice on how to save money.

Ask your Mentor anything …. This is a chance to ask your Mentors a direct question relating to your Big Idea.

How do you set up a service like we said?