History

Recently I was asked what made me start the Achievers Club. The truth is it was never my intention to start something so special. My aim was to find one child who was struggling with life, perhaps from a single-parent family, with no male role-model and who was finding school and life in general difficult. I thought I would like the opportunity to act as a grandfather/ friend that he could rely on and seek advice from. I wanted to play a part in changing his life, by helping build his self-confidence and his outlook on life. I found that little boy and before long three of his mates, in similar situations, asked if they could join us, and the Achievers Club was born.

While I have great pride in the Achievers Club and what we are doing, I don’t take credit for where we are, with nearly 100 volunteers and 50 students. It is amazing what good people can achieve when there is a selfless approach to helping young people become the best they can be. I am inspired by each of our volunteers. Although we come from a range of backgrounds, we share the same values and mission. We believe that every child, no matter their economic circumstances, deserves the opportunity to be the best they can be. We also share the belief that education can provide the skills to maximise their talents, open up opportunities and build their confidence.

Our students are the reason we exist and I can’t help but respect them for attending on Saturday mornings, when they could be spending time with their friends. It is gratifying to see how enthusiastic and grateful their parents are to the Club, for providing this support, free of charge.

The Great Nelson Mandela is a hero of mine. I am often reminded of his quotes, however two that come to mind are:

             "It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it."

                          "There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others                                                        without expecting anything in return."

These quotes describe our very generous volunteers and what makes our Club so special.

Danny McEvoy

President and Founder