SUMMER PROJECTS:"I WISH the summer project would never stop," said Zara McDonald (6), one of thousands of participants in this year's summer projects run by the Catholic Youth Council and Dublin City Council.
The projects are popular with parents too. "I will be lost without it," said Zara's mother, Edel. "Most days the kids leave at 9.30am and return at 4pm. What's great about it is the knowledge that they're well looked after. I know everyone that's in it because we are all neighbours."
Edel said Zara started the project a very shy and clingy girl but emerged at the end a very different person. "My Zara has gained more confidence and will go on trips without me being there," she says.
"It's also great value for money and with three kids attending I even get a discount. For parents that are working it's a great help."
Zara - with her brothers Robert (11) and David (7) - has been taking part for the past seven weeks in the Pearse Street Summer Project which finishes at the weekend.
"It has been great fun. I will definitely participate again next year," says Robert. "The most exciting trip for me was the boat trip to Ireland's Eye. Although I was scared at the start, I was able to dive into the water when my friends encouraged me."
"At Energy , I played a game of rope climbing. I had to climb up a wall using a rope," says David McDonald, recounting some of the activities he took part in. "At Fort Lucan , we raced in go-karts, played miniature golf and went in the swimming pools."
The 80 projects in 20 locations are run mainly by volunteers. Their aim is to provide each child "with a full child's life", said Niall Byrnes, assistant community development officer at Dublin City Council.