The exhibition, which took place at HMH’s global innovation headquarters in Dublin, showcased the work of 9–10 year olds from City Quay, collated over an eight-week programme. The project was facilitated in association with the Educational Disadvantage Centre (EDC). Based in Dublin, the EDC aims to highlight the implications of social and economic disadvantage within the primary education sector.

Under the supervision and instruction of a visual artist and art education specialist, 35 HMH volunteers acted as mentors to the class as they worked through elements of the visual arts curriculum. The weekly creative sessions incorporated traditional art mediums such as drawing and painting and also included the creation of a 3-D Christmas Village installation.

“As a global education leader, we are committed to serving students and teachers all over the world, so we are delighted to support such a worthwhile project in our own community. Our collaboration with the Educational Disadvantage Centre provided our employees with an opportunity to engage their skills and tackle education issues at a grassroots level. I know they thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on classroom experience the project provided,” said Fiona O’Carroll, Executive Vice-President, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Following training with the Educational Disadvantage Centre, HMH volunteers used methods such as Process Learning and the Positive Engagement Model which are proven to help children overcome the fear of failure – one of the key reasons why children fail to learn. The project fulfils the National Economic and Social Forum (NESF) literacy and social inclusion recommendations for the development of new educational project methods and resources.

Simone Murray, Associate Art Education Lecturer and Research Associate, Educational Disadvantage Centre added: “Mentor projects are a good way to facilitate confidence building in children. Mentor support, structured by Process Learning and the Positive Engagement Method, can build self-esteem in children and encourage children to learn.”

The project is part of a long-term commitment to employee volunteerism and local community involvement at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. The company, which recently completed an employee day of service at St. John of God’s Menni Services Centre in Dublin, gives every employee the opportunity to take two days off per year to volunteer.