A mentoring programme
for Transition Year students

Leaders build others

What matters is
character

Horizon helps boys see their secondary school years from the viewpoint of their entire life. It encourages them to develop now the skills and attitudes they will need for future life challenges.

Through a combination of monthly classes, workshops, career presentations and one-to-one mentoring, it teaches them to be men of character who are ready for responsibility to become:

Good husbands and fathers

Excellent professionals

Responsible citizens

Loyal friends

The underlying idea is that, while material possessions, athletic ability, good looks, and intellectual ability do matter, what matters most in life is character. Character allows men to take on responsibility and makes them great. Character endures after these other things are long gone.

Who runs Horizon?

Horizon is run by Nullamore. Nullamore is an educational centre where young people are helped to reach their full potential in partnership with parents. Nullamore is managed by Brosna Educational Centres Ltd. Responsibility for spiritual and doctrinal formation offered in Nullamore is entrusted to Opus Dei, a personal prelature of the Catholic Church.

You may also read the Horizon Brochure for more information.

FAQ

1. What is the goal of Horizon?

To help secondary school students prepare themselves to take on responsibility. The more responsible they are, the more responsibility they will get, and the more exciting their lives will be.

The underlying idea is that, while material possessions, athletic ability, good looks, and intellectual ability do matter, what matters most in life is character. Character allows men to take on responsibility and makes them great. Character endures after these other things are long gone.

2. Why the name “Horizon”?

The important things in life are discovered when looking beyond the immediate to the horizon—the ideals that ought to guide the choices you make today. This program encourages and coaches these students in practical and powerful ways to start thinking and acting now on the basis of those ideals.

3. Isn’t it too early for students in 1st, 2nd or 3rd year to worry about things like university and career?

Not at all. The seminar is not meant to create stress about getting into the ‘best’ university or having the ‘best’ job. But secondary school students should be looking ahead to where they are going in life so that they begin now to develop the skills and attitudes needed for the great tasks of their lives: forming a family, serving society through their work and developing friendships with colleagues, neighbours and (most of all) God. Between the ages 12 and 18, habits are formed, friends are made, ideas and ideals are internalised. Young men need to see their secondary school years in the light of their entire life.

4. Can a student sign up for the course even though he cannot attend every session?

Yes, but we strongly encourage attendance at every session. Hence, there is no discount envisaged for those who are not able to attend all sessions.

5. Why does Nullamore entrust the Christian orientation of their activities to Opus Dei?

Nullamore’s activities are based on a Christian view of life that recognises the dignity of the human person, the inherent goodness of the created world, the value of human work and the God-given moral law. In both professional activities such as Horizon and spiritual activities like retreats, recollections and doctrine classes, Opus Dei ensures that a true Christian spirit is present. Opus Dei is an institution of the Catholic Church whose mission is to help people find God in and through the circumstances of their ordinary life.

6. Should I let my friends know about Horizon?

Yes. We encourage you to inform other people about Horizon. When friends attend the programme together, they establish a means of reinforcement extending well beyond the seminars. If you would like a brief presentation of the programme for you and your friends, please contact us to make arrangements.

7. What does the mentoring involve?

Each student is assigned a mentor who will meet individually with him between the monthly sessions. The mentor guides the student in applying the principles taught in class and helps him set goals that are important and practical. Mentoring sessions last 45 minutes and will typically take place once a month in Nullamore (90 Foster Avenue, Mount Merrion, Co. Dublin), on the first or third Saturday of the month. Where this is not possible, mentoring can be held at the student’s home, or over the phone. For the sake of continuity, the mentor also tries to maintain contact with the student by phone in between mentoring sessions.

8. What does the Big Picture series offer?

Secondary students make decisions that set a course for their life. This seminar prepares 1st and 2nd year students for these decisions. Each seminar talk addresses an important area of the students’ life and helps them see how their choices and actions can impact their future.Besides the talk, each session has an interactive activity that stresses interpersonal skills, inner strength and developing a sporting spirit.

9. What does the Great Achievements series offer?

This seminar helps students to see how their decisions in secondary school are shaping the sort of person they will become. The seminar concentrates on the character traits that constitute a mature, responsible adult. It helps them start discerning possible career interests, which will prepare them for a fruitful Transition Year.

10. What does the Professional series offer?

Transition Year and the Senior Cycle present an opportunity for students to begin thinking in earnest about career interests. This seminar introduces students in 4th and 5th Year to diverse career paths through a series of presentations by leading professionals. It is also the time to develop the soft skills that are essential for success in college and in the workplace. An interactive activity and a talk on character development follows each presentation.

1. Core Skill Workshops

The 8 core skill workshops are normally held in the premises of top-performing companies located in Dublin. Speakers are chosen based on their professional experience and expertise in communicating the key professional traits and soft skills students must develop to succeed in the competitive workplace environment.

Innovation and service

How you can improve the world and society

Relationships

Making deep and genuine friendships

Decision-making

How your decisions today shape your life tomorrow

Leadership

Motivating others to want to grow, starting with yourself

Embracing challenges

Learning to love difficulties, setbacks and constructive feedback

Communication

How to get your ideas across in a way that people will understand

Teamwork

Producing great results amid contrasting personalities

CV & Interviews

The importance of crafting a professional image now for prospective employers

2. Community Outreach

Each student participates in a social project by giving one hour of his time and energy each month to serve others. By working as part of a team to improve the lives of others, the participants are involved in projects that are creating real social change and give them a broader perspective on their place in the world.

Volunteering Abroad
As part of the programme, a group of Horizon participants will have the opportunity to take part in a social project abroad during the summer of 2018.

3. Mentoring

Each student is assigned a mentor who guides him in finding practical applications of the principles taught in the classes. He is like a coach who teaches, challenges and encourages each student to reach his best.

Specifically, he helps the student set goals that are important and practical. In an ongoing way, he helps the student track his progress towards these goals.

The mentoring programme follows a monthly curriculum, but it is tailored to each individual student’s needs.

Student mentoring sessions typically take place once a month in Nullamore (90 Foster Avenue, Mount Merrion, Co. Dublin), on the first or third Saturday of the month. Where this is not possible, mentoring can be held at the student’s home, or over the phone. For the sake of continuity, the mentor also tries to maintain contact with the student by phone in between mentoring sessions.

James Pampillon
― Programme Director ―
James studied History and Politics at University College Dublin. He now works in MJ Flood Technology where he began as a sales executive before moving to his current role as business development manager. As part of his current role he spent four months in Amsterdam taking part in the Cisco Sales Academy as a Partner Associate Sales Representative. James has participated in many youth programs and in more recent years has been involved in the running of several youth leadership programs.

Jeffrey Egan

Jeffrey attended NUI Galway graduating with a B. Comm degree in 2005 before moving to Dublin to complete an MBS postgraduate qualification in Finance in UCD. Thereafter he worked as a sales professional for several years with both Pearson and McGraw Hill Education providing innovate teaching and learning solutions to universities in the higher education market in Ireland and the UK. He currently works a project manager on various educational and family projects related to Brosna Educational Centres Ltd. He enjoys reading and music.

Ezekiel Mercau

Ezekiel was born in Argentina, but has lived in Dublin since 2005. He studied History and Politics in UCD, where he also wrote an MA dissertation on the Troubles in Northern Ireland. He then went on to do a PhD on the Falklands War at the University of Copenhagen. He’s currently working as a history researcher in UCD, as well as managing a university residence in town, where he runs a professional mentoring programme for college students. He loves sports (especially soccer and cycling), reading and playing the guitar.

Will Dillon

Will is from Mexico and moved to Dublin in 2013. He did the Leaving Certificate in one year and then went to study Classics at Trinity College Dublin. He is currently in third year. He is fond of high culture, loves having great discussions, and likes photography and sports.

Ronan O’Farrell

He is one of the founding partners of the Timoney Leadership Institute and became its first CEO in 2015. Graduating in 1994 with a BComm International from UCD, he worked as a Strategic Analyst and then as International Brand Manager with Baileys Irish Cream. In 2000, he became General Manager of the Lismullin Institute set up to promote conferences, seminars and retreats which spark and instill a Christian outlook on work, life and culture. In his time with Lismullin up to 2015, he worked on the Lismullin Leadership Forum and led a major expansion of Lismullin Conference Centre in County Meath, financed through a national fundraising campaign over 15 years.

David Gibney

David is from Co. Meath. He completed his undergraduate studies in history and English literature at Trinity College, Dublin. He gained his PhD from there on approaches to the will in medieval writing. A former Irish Research Council Scholar, he was later appointed a Mayers Fellow at the Huntington Library in California, and is currently engaged in further teaching and research at Trinity. He has many years’ experience tutoring and mentoring school students participating in Trinity College’s Voluntary Tuition Programme. He likes reading, hiking, piano, and technology.

Jude Mulligan

Jude is a secondary school teacher, whose subjects include English, Religion, Citizen Leadership and Philosophy. Before taking up teaching full-time, he was the director of Nullamore for almost 10 years. He also currently assists in the running of a Mentoring programme for university students in Ely University Centre in Dublin city centre. Jude holds a BA in English and Philosophy from UCD, as well as Masters degrees both in Philosophy and in Human Rights Studies.

Contact

WHEN

Core Skill Workshops: 2nd Wednesday of each month, 7.30-8.30pm
Mentoring Sessions: Coordinate directly with mentor

WHERE

Nullamore
90 Foster Avenue,
Mount Merrion,
Co. Dublin
Tel: (01) 288 1734
Mobile: (089) 256 1809
E-mail: info@theHorizon.ie

Registration

Student information

First name*

Surname*

Secondary School

Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy)

Student's Email

Student's Home Phone

Student's Mobile (if applicable)

Parent information

Father's Name*

Father's Email*

Father's Mobile*

Mother's Name*

Mother's Email*

Mother's Mobile*

Address

Street Address*

Street Address (2nd line)

Postcode*

City

Parental Consent

Medical: I authorise Horizon staff to seek medical assistance for my son, should the need arise.

Photo: I authorise any photography that includes my son to be used for the purpose of promoting the Horizon programme. I understand that such photography remains property of Horizon.

By entering my name below, I understand that I am signing as a parent or legal guardian.

Parent's name*

If you have any additional comments for the program directors, please mention them here.

Payment

Families with more than one son participating in Horizon can apply for a special discount. Financial considerations should not prevent anyone from attending. A scholarship may be requested. For more information about scholarships please contact Stephen Doorly at info@theHorizon.ie.

Price: €160

Option 1 – Pay Online (PayPal)

Option 2 – Post a Cheque

Send a cheque payable to “Nullamore Youth Club” to the below address:

Nullamore
90 Foster Avenue
Mount Merrion
Co. Dublin

Option 3 – Direct Debit

To the following

IE84 AIBK 9310 4766 7830 94