Today, 2nd September 2024, Harris PR welcomes the recipient of the PR Bursary, Carolina Lucca to commence her nine-month paid internship at the award-winning agency. Established with the Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII) and Open Doors Ireland (ODI), the bursary covers the fees for the PRII Diploma in PR and operates with the guidance and expertise of ODI.
This Diversity, Equality and Inclusion initiative provides opportunities and support to some of the under-represented members of our society by creating pathways to work through training, education, employment and mentorship.
Commenting on the announcement, Sonia Harris Pope, Founder and Managing Director of Harris PR, says:
“We set out to mark our 15 year milestone in business by establishing this initiative with the PRII and ODI hoping to help to safeguard the future of the PR industry in Ireland and provide a legacy for the years ahead. Our industry really benefits from diverse perspectives and experiences, and as Ireland continues to evolve into a more diverse and inclusive nation, so must the PR industry. Not everyone has a straightforward path to a career in PR – that’s certainly my own experience and that of many of my peers and colleagues. At Harris PR we’re keen to invest in the next generation of talent and already have a proven commitment to supporting those new to the profession and encouraging others to consider it. We would like to see more of our peers in the industry consider how they too can take an inclusive approach to nurturing new talent.
We look forward to welcoming Carolina to our team; she immediately stood out with her enthusiasm, positivity and warmth, as well as her drive to continue to further her studies and upweight her skillset. It’s an exciting time to join the agency with lots of interesting campaigns planned for the next few months, and I’m sure Carolina will settle right in.”
Carolina moved to Ireland from Brazil in 2017 and has over nine years of experience in customer service, relationship building, and gastronomy. She is now intent on pursuing a career in public relations and with the help of the Scholarship will begin the PRII Diploma along with her internship at Harris PR this September.
Carolina Lucca, Recipient of the PR Bursary comments: “I am incredibly honoured and excited to have received both a bursary and an internship in Public Relations through Open Doors Initiative, Public Relations Institute of Ireland (PRII), and Harris Public Relations.
As an immigrant in Ireland, this opportunity means even more to me, as I understand how challenging it can be to secure such opportunities. Continuing my studies and starting this new role in PR gives me the chance to be part of something amazing, working alongside such talented people within the Irish work environment. I am eager to learn as much as possible from this experience and am deeply grateful for the support that is helping me advance in my career.”
“Demand for public relations and strategic communications advice has been growing steadily in recent years and, as a sector that wants to employ the brightest and most creative thinkers, it needs to be recognised as open and welcoming to people from diverse backgrounds and identities,” says PRII CEO Dr Martina Byrne.
She adds, “Everyday public relations teams in all sorts of organisations are tasked to reach various stakeholders and populations and that works best when the communication strategy is informed by a diversity of lived experience among those responding. This PRII Scholarship and Internship is about spreading the word that there are opportunities and good careers to be had in public relations”.
Jeanne McDonagh, CEO, Open Doors says, “The Open Doors Initiative is delighted to work with the PRII and Harris PR to create this paid internship and scholarship opportunity. It gives those who face barriers to work and education a chance to upskill and develop a career in their chosen field. It also makes for a more diverse and open workforce in this area that more closely reflects Irish society as it is now. We wish the chosen individual the best and look forward to a great partnership with all, now and into the future.”
