The Dream Team – Mercy College Waterford

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

We decided to focus on this challenge because we wanted to discover more about what goes on in people's lives. What impact it has on them? Why people get into this type of situations in the first place.

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

From our research we found out that hidden poverty isn't talked about that often. It is a situation where adults or even young adults don't want to open up about. Sometimes it may affect their mental health.

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What have you learnt about your Hero?

Our Hero is called Laura Flynn. She is 23 years of age. She calls herself female. She is not married and is currently renting a house. She also is unemployed. Her nationality is Irish. She faces emotionally and financially challenges. Emotionally- she has elevated levels of stress and depression. Low levels of productivity and she is worried and suffers from anxiety. Financially- she lost her job which results in money coming in. She is also suffering from instability. Why? She is stressed out because she doesn't have a job and she doesn't know where to get the money from to

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

One thing I would improve about our hero is that she isn't depressed and stressed over family issues. She doesn't suffer from hidden poverty.

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

One solution we are considering is to make a safe place where people can talk about their stories and lives living with hidden poverty. It is a place where they can feel safe.

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

Is it a popular problems amount households in Ireland? Is it more popular amount older or younger people? Do many young people talk about living with hidden poverty? How do you know if someone is living with hidden poverty? Is it a situation that helps people realise. Oh O really need to get this job or this is going to happen again. And I don't want that tohappen?

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