News

On October 4th, four psychology students, Colleen Kyan, Nora Barry, Ella Gallagher and Mollie Connolly from the University of Galway came together to participate in Galway Simon Community's Sleep Out, raising both funds and awareness for homelessness. The event was held on the university grounds, in collaboration with the Galway Simon Society. By reaching out to friends, family, and fellow students to support the cause together with society members, the initiative successfully raised an impressive €6,210, of which the four students collectively contributed €1,892 - funds that will go directly to supporting vital services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.  

The students first became involved through the ‘Community Psychology and Social Justice’ module led by Michael Hogan. The module encourages students to move beyond the classroom and engage actively with real-world issues, particularly those centred around social justice and community development. Inspired by the module’s teachings, the group decided to participate in the Sleep Out, embracing the opportunity to make a tangible difference.  

The Sleep Out was more than just a fundraising effort; it was an experience that fostered empathy, solidarity, and a deeper understanding of the struggles faced by those experiencing homelessness. The group spent the night on the cold and hard college grounds, gaining a small glimpse of what many endure daily. Their reflections revealed how the experience brought a personal dimension to the statistics and theory they had studied in class. 

One of the students shared, “It’s one thing to learn about homelessness in lectures, but actually taking part in an event like this makes it so much more real. It gave us a sense of responsibility to do something, however small, to help.” 

As part of the event, the students had the privilege of meeting Karen Golden, CEO of Galway Simon Community. Her insights into the organization’s operations, challenges, and achievements left a lasting impression on the group.