Reference from the Dublin Computer Clubhouse from my volunteer and internship time.

1. 26 September 2011
To Whom It Concerns
Deirdra Pickering was a Volunteer Mentor and Intern at the SWICN Computer Clubhouse, an
after-school multimedia technology centre, between March 2010 – February 2011.
Deirdra’s role within the organisation quickly developed and she conducted her Master’s
dissertation on the value of social capital in the Clubhouse. Following completion of her
dissertation, Deirdra was offered an intern position.
At the Computer Clubhouse, the most important requirements of a Volunteer Mentor is their
commitment, reliability and genuine interest in working with people, especially 8-18 year olds.
Deirdra was committed to her role from day one, which is paramount to the work, as
consistency in the life of young people is extremely important.
Deirdra worked 2-3 afternoons per week with a range of young people with whom she built
solid relationships. She typically worked within a group environment of 10-16 young people,
between 8-18 years on a variety of technology projects.
From October 2010, she took up the position of intern. Her responsibilities were:
• To revamp the website
• To create strategies to recruit and retain volunteers
• To revamp and run the induction process for volunteers
• Create and run a set of resources for volunteers to use.
This role involved linking in with a team of over 30 volunteer mentors, diverse in age,
background, culture and interests.
In my time knowing Deirdra, I found her a kind-hearted and gentle person, with great respect
for all people. She was emotionally intelligent with a great sense of empathy. I’ve observed
her ability to gently motivate young people, whether they were generating new ideas or
getting their projects over the finish line. Most importantly, she had a relaxed and friendly
approach and makes the learning process fun!
Deirdra also brought a wealth of business and educational experience to the Clubhouse,
which strengthened the capacity of the staff team.
I wish her well with her own business and have no hesitation in recommending her to any
parent.
Kindest regards,
Janice Feighery
Clubhouse Manager
Computer Clubhouse | South West Inner City Network [SWICN]
Rainsford Street | Dublin 8
Registered Charity No. | CHY6865
T | +353 1 4536674 E | info@theclubhouse.ie W | www.theclubhouse.ie

2. About
The SWICN Computer Clubhouse provides a creative and safe after school learning
environment where young people, 8-18 years, from underserved communities work with adult
mentors to explore their own ideas, develop skills, and build confidence in themselves
through the use of technology.
The South West Inner City Network (SWICN), a community development organization, runs
the Computer Clubhouse.
The Clubhouse learning approach is designed to empower youth from all backgrounds to
become more capable, creative, and confident learners. This approach is grounded in
research from the fields of education, developmental and social psychology, cognitive
science, and youth development. It builds on research on the role of affect and motivation in
the learning process, the importance of social context, and the interplay between individual
and community development. It leverages new technologies to support new types of learning
experiences and engage young people who have been alienated by traditional educational
approaches. It is proven to be one of the most effective models of youth work in Ireland.
The model of learning was developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten at Media Lab in the
Massacheusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, U.S.
Computer Clubhouse | South West Inner City Network [SWICN]
Rainsford Street | Dublin 8
Registered Charity No. | CHY6865
T | +353 1 4536674 E | info@theclubhouse.ie W | www.theclubhouse.ie