By Helen Carroll | Feb 19 2016
The 100 Minds Childline Challenge was launched this month, and sees some of Ireland’s upcoming entrepreneurs, creators and leaders raising €1000 each for Irish children’s charities through a variety of means.Fundraising events include bake sales, charity runs, setting up a business, or tutoring people for a fee. Over €400,000 has been raised to date, going to many different causes across the country. These range from helping children who are in hospital access education, and providing support to those with disabilities across the country, as well as being a listening ear with the likes of Childline or Teenline. All proceeds from the fundraising drive will go to the charity.Students who sign up have to organise and run the fundraising event themselves. The organisers believe this allows them to learn valuable life skills that can benefit them in the future, as well as offering them the chance to give back to their community. The fundraising idea was created with the idea of having a double social impact, because both the children and the participating students earn something from it. Participants can receive mentoring throughout and have access to a huge range of services from leading organisations and companies to improve their skills to help them succeed.Joanna Siewierska, a first year Law with Social Justice Student undertaking this task, says that she signed up “because I wanted to make a difference and challenge myself doing something new”. Siewierska believes that supports for children are very important, citing that as the reason for keeping her strong in her challenge. She says “Every child deserves to be listened to, and if I can play a small part in making sure that there's someone there to listen 24/7, then I don't mind giving up my time.”Childline does not receive any Government funding and relies on the donations of supporters to keep its phone lines and messaging services available to children all across the country. It is hoped that such an event will create much-needed donations and awareness of their services for the most vulnerable members in our society.In the coming weeks there will be many events across the country to raise funds for the cause, including a bake sale in UCD. More information on how to donate and other events can be found at www.100minds.org