peter
1/2″I have three children- two daughters, and a son with special needs. While the girls were always very active playing sports, going to summer camps or going over to friends’ houses, my son never had anywhere to go unless I went with him. I always wished he had the same or at least similar opportunities like the other children had. After Rory was born I had to give up work and stay at home. I came from a very busy and challenging work environment so I struggled being at home full-time. I kept looking for something that I could do part-time, but still filling the needs of my own house as well. So I applied for a part-time job in administration. I was happy for about two weeks until I got absolutely bored with it, but I didn’t want to give up working. This is when I came up with the camp idea. There are hundreds of different camps around for almost every activity or hobby you can imagine, but no professional environment for children with special needs. I always wanted to have my own business one day, but I never knew what it would be. And it all came together from the fact that Rory and I were bored at home. Getting in touch with Social Entrepreneurs Ireland gave us the support to accomplish both our needs while creating a fun and social environment for special needs children. From that point on I was on a mission, where I loved waking up every morning. I feel like I turned around the difficulty of taking care of a child with special needs into a fun project that we both enjoy to the max.”
– This interview is part of a collaborative campaign between Humans of Dublin and Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, speaking to social entrepreneurs across the country about what drives them and seeing the impact they are having in communities around Ireland. Find out more about how you can apply for funding and support for your idea or project and help change Ireland here: Social Entrepreneurs Ireland #ChangingIreland
Humans of Dublin would also like to use this opportunity to mark #WorldDownSyndromeDay