Hey my name is Molly Anne I am 16 years old and I’m from County Meath. From a young age I’ve struggled with going to school and I was always fighting with my Mam. It was always just me and her, we had help but it was still really hard for us.
As I got older nothing changed I still took everything out on my Mam and wouldn’t go to school. I was running away, staying in bed all day and wasn’t doing anything good to help myself. I had not attended school for over a year and a half and was hanging around with negative peers, drinking and getting into trouble in my local community.
When my Mam first told me about Smart (YDP) I didn’t want to join the programme. I had just returned home after running away for 3 months and I wasn’t in a good place at the time but I finally agreed to the meeting. When the staff from the Smart (YDP) came out to my house to meet with me I knew straight away this was going to help me and I would love it.
The staff at the SMART (YDP) helped me so much by giving me support, setting up courses for me and getting me back into school. The staff supported me around settling back into school and were always there for me if I was struggling in school or with any other issues.
It’s been nearly 2 years since I ran away from home or had a big fight with my Mam and since I have gone back to school I have not missed a day.
My advice for anyone getting an opportunity to join a programme like this would be to take it. I always hated asking for help so I would never take it but I am so glad I did.
Youth Diversion Projects are co-funded by the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus.
