Young entrepreneurs are cleaning up Limerick city one road sign at a time
“I just want to use my ‘gifts’ to have a positive impact on the world and create a future I’d want to live in”
ONE YOUNG Limerick man and his friend are helping point others in the right direction after taking to the streets to give road signs a much-needed clean.
David Hackett, 20, shared their endeavour on social media and can be heard in the video describing the act as “a small thing that builds and rebuilds a community.”
After posting their good deed online, David told Limerick Live that he’s received an “overwhelming amount of positive feedback” from Limerick people.
The young entrepreneur, originally from Raheen, takes inspiration from Steve Jobs, describing the Apple founder’s “positive impact” on the world as his “main motivation”.
His friend, Christopher O’Connor, 18, is just as passionate about community. In his spare time, he has raised thousands for the Schools and Health Foundation (SHF) and the Children’s Grief Centre in Limerick, crediting his late father as his inspiration.
“I am just grateful that I get to wake up everyday and make a positive impact,” Christopher explained.
After seeing their video online, the young men were approached by a Limerick cleaning company called DoUp, who offered their services.
David describes meeting up with the owner Matthew De Cock “who reached out and offered to join us”.
“We met him a few days later with all of his specialised equipment and we got over 10 signs cleaned in Raheen, Weston, Southill, Fairview and Castletroy so that was unbelievable.”
When asked about the bad rap young people often get in Ireland, he believes the problem is bigger: “There’s only so much blame you can put on young people themselves rather than the system itself.”
He calls on politicians and the decision makers to listen to the public, and blames “the lack of free public spaces like sports parks” as the reason for anti-social behaviour by young people.
The young entrepreneurs plans don’t stop there as he aims to start his own company one day.
He seems to be on the right track towards his goals as the owner of the charity Swap ‘N’ Serve, a free community clothing swap event.
The charity aims to promote sustainability, help people in the community and reduce waste.
David himself describes his end goal as leaving “a positive dent in the world.”