There's something quietly powerful about watching someone you love chase down an opportunity they never thought was meant for them. And when a mum and daughter do it together? That's the kind of story that makes you want to put down your cold cup of tea and really pay attention.
This week, Dionne Hannifin-Daly graduated from the STEM Passport for Inclusion programme at Maynooth University. Standing right beside her was her mum, Avril, who completed the very same programme through Women's Collective Ireland in Ronanstown. The pair are among 319 Transition Year students and participants from across Leinster celebrating their achievements at graduation ceremonies running from 28th to 30th January.
What exactly is the STEM Passport for Inclusion?
If you haven't heard of it before, here's the gist. The STEM Passport for Inclusion is a programme run through Maynooth University that's designed to open doors for students and learners from under-served backgrounds. We're talking about young people who might not have seen science, technology, engineering or maths as "for them" because of where they grew up or what opportunities were available.
The programme gives participants a proper Level 6 qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications. That's a real, recognised university credential. But it's not just about the cert. There's academic support, work experience placements, and mentorship from people actually working in STEM industries. The kind of stuff that can genuinely change the trajectory of someone's future.
Avril Hannifin, Professor Katriona O'Sullivan and Dionne Hannifin-Daly
Since it launched, more than 5,000 students have completed the programme. And now it's expanding to include TY boys, Youthreach learners, and women returning to education. Which feels pretty significant when you think about how many brilliant people have been locked out of these career paths simply because nobody showed them the door.
A mother-daughter journey worth celebrating
Dionne's story is particularly lovely. She completed the programme alongside her mum Avril, who's been involved with Women's Collective Ireland for the past 20 years. That's two decades of community, support and growth... and now a shared graduation day.
Reflecting on what the experience meant to her, Dionne said: "The STEM Passport for Inclusion programme has transformed how I see careers in STEM. It has encouraged me to explore opportunities in AI and to think innovatively about creating tools that support people with additional needs."
She went on to credit her mum's influence. "My mam's attitude towards learning has always inspired me and the Women's Collective offered a really supportive learning environment."
Avril Hannifin, Professor Katriona O'Sullivan and Dionne Hannifin-Daly
Honestly, there's something about a young woman wanting to build AI tools that help people with additional needs that just makes you feel a tiny bit hopeful about the future. Especially when you know she got there with her mam cheering her on.
The numbers tell their own story
It's one thing to say a programme is making a difference. It's another to have the research to back it up. After completing the STEM Passport for Inclusion, 79 percent of students said they'd consider applying to study STEM at third level. And 76 percent are now considering a career in STEM.
Those aren't small numbers. That's a genuine shift in how young people see themselves and what's possible for their lives.
Professor Katriona O'Sullivan, who leads the programme at Maynooth University, put it simply: "The continued growth of STEM Passport for Inclusion demonstrates its success in encouraging students from disadvantaged backgrounds to explore the wide range of opportunities available to them. Welcoming participants from Women's Collective Ireland at this year's graduation highlights what is possible when access to opportunity is expanded."
The programme is run in partnership with Microsoft as founding partner, and receives funding from Research Ireland, the Department of Education and Youth, as well as various industry and education partners. It's the kind of collaboration that actually seems to be working.
Why this matters for all of us
Look, we all know how easy it is to feel like certain paths are closed off. Whether it's because of where we went to school, what we could afford, or just the quiet assumption that "people like us" don't do things like that. These stories matter because they chip away at those assumptions.
Seeing 920 learners graduate across three days this week? Knowing that includes mothers and daughters, TY students from 38 schools across Leinster, and women who've returned to education later in life? That's the kind of thing that deserves more than a quick scroll.
Because somewhere out there, a mum is wondering if it's too late to learn something new. And somewhere else, a teenager is being told she's not the "science type." Programmes like this prove that's nonsense.
And that's worth celebrating. Cold tea and all.
