Series 2, Programme Two

Monday 13th April 2009

In programme two we learn more about the personal challenges and motivations of four more of the eight students; Ifrah Ahmed, Stephan Cullen, Peter Trinder, Anne Trinder, Thomas McMahon, Ann Boyd, Ann Ahern, and James McCann. In episode two the following four participants are profiled;

Ifrah Ahmed

Ifrah is a 20-year-old asylum seeker and comes from Somalia. She currently lives in Drogheda in rented accommodation and has no family in Ireland. She is unemployed despite attending a local job club and applying for many jobs. Ifrah has never received any schooling and so she has never been able to read or write in any language. Simple everyday things cause her stress and she is struggling to make a life for herself without these essential skills.. Another problem for Ifrah is basic numeracy needed for everyday tasks such as shopping. Ifrah's dream would be to work as a nurse or even as a carer in a nursing home but that is a far away thought at the moment. She often feels ashamed and humiliated when she sees girls her age working through college or starting their careers and is frustrated with her own situation.

Thomas McMahon

Thomas is 43 and from Clondalkin. He has three children - Rachel (16), Jordan (11) and Lauren (10). Thomas spent his school years being a 'wild child' and he left school with extremely low literacy levels. In his adult life Thomas has had a few failed businesses due to his inability to look after the paperwork side of things. He thinks that if his literacy was better he could definitely have his own business as he feels he has an enterprising personality. Thomas cannot read a paper nor can he make out his children's school books. He is too embarrassed to attend parent/teacher meetings and sends his niece instead. He says he just wants to be able to pick up a book and read it and help his children with their homework.

Ann Boyd

Ann is in her 50s and is from Sligo. She has five children and eight grandchildren. She left school at 13 to stay at home to help her mother and be her companion. Even the little time she was in school never really taught her much.

Her five kids can all read and write and most have successful lives. One of her sons and one of her daughters live in America. Her son in the US is married to a Mexican lady who's spoken English is not good. Ann would love to be able to write her letters so she could get to know her better. Her daughter in Boston has a Masters which Ann is very proud of, and again she would love to write her a letter as she feels this would really surprise her and make her proud.

Her main goals are to be able to write letters to her son and daughter in America, and enrolling in Sligo IT so she can get a qualification and get paid to do the carer work she already does for free.

Anne Ahern

Anne is 49 and lives in Leixlip. She is a widow and has two daughters (Fiona, 25 and Áine, 22). Anne is originally from Clondalkin, moving to Leixlip about ten years ago. She lost her husband, Pat about four years ago, he died of a massive heart attack aged 44.

Anne is a hairdresser by trade. Anne really enjoyed running her own business but she was also really looking forward to the future herself and Pat had planned, but this all changed when he died suddenly.

After Pat's death, Anne says their friends drifted away once he was gone and she spent most of this time at home alone. Anne would like to do the course because she feels she is starting her life all over again and wants to have her literacy problems sorted out once and for all. She thinks her prospects are limited because of it.