Social Placement is the name allocated to a vastly worthwhile practical project undertaken by Ardscoil Rís Transition Year students annually. The project entails the student acquiring volunteer work in a charitable organisation or body which works to help better the lifestyles of disadvantaged people. Social Placement lasts for the period of one week in which it is expected that the student involved comes into contact with the harsh realities of what it is actually like to be devoid of luxuries and specific livelihoods often taken for granted in our modem economically affluent society.

In my opinion the foremost aim of Social Placement is to increase the awareness of a student as to the challenges faced by certain people on a day to day basis. I think that this is an extremely beneficial experience as the student should then be able to understand and relate to the categories of people involved. Also it is my belief that Social Placement significantly aids in diminishing certain common stereotypes, such as calling people with special needs, handicapped.

For my Social Placement I ventured to St. Josephs Workshop for people with special needs in Charleville, Co. Cork . I did this with the hope that it would embrace the objectives of the assignment, and the association did not disappoint. St. Josephs gave me a remarkable, life changing encounter, as a result of which I believe myself to have become a better person. During my time at the workshop I was given genuine tasks to do with the service users, however I did not look upon these as work, rather I enjoyed every moment to its fullest. The foundation has a motto; "Do not look at the disability, look at the ability" , and a mission statement of their aims; "To provide people with disabilities the opportunity to live the life of their choice to their fullest potential" . These epitomise the meaning of Social Placement, in my opinion.

As a result of Social Placement I have learnt how even a little effort means an immeasurable amount to underprivileged people. Although there was a certain sadness involved in working in such an environment, I was able to see that people with special needs are the way they are through no fault of their own. Yet, even bearing this in mind, they have an outlook on life better than many people who are not challenged do, as opposed to practising cynicism, an easy option in many of the situations in question.. These people always tend to see the best of a person and a situation. It is my belief that inspirational figures can be found within these impeded communities.

In conclusion, Social Placement has undeniably been one of the highlights in Transition Year thus far. It is unquestionably an eye-opening experience which touches the lives of all involved.