A SPECIAL showcase event celebrating the strength and growth of community learning across Donegal took place in Letterkenny on Thursday, November 13.
Organised by Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB), the ‘Ag Dul ó Neart go Neart’ event highlighted a wide range of projects supported by its Further Education and Training (FET) Service through the community education REACH Fund and the Adult Literacy for Life Collaboration and Innovation Fund.
Over a hundred attendees from community groups, Family Resource Centres, Men’s Sheds, and key county organisations, including Donegal County Library, Donegal Local Development Company, Inishowen Development Partnership, and the Citizens Information Service, enjoyed impressive displays from funded projects, including art, beekeeping, carpentry, crafts, and sewing.
The importance of community education and the impact it continues to have across the county was highlighted by Donegal ETB Community Education Facilitator Catherine Friel, “Community learning helps preserve culture, build strong, connected communities and reduce social isolation by bringing people together”, she said.
The REACH Fund, which began in 2020 as an emergency response during Covid-19, “has become an essential support, enabling community groups to expand their work and meet local needs,” Community Education Facilitator Orla Winters said. To date, this fund has supported 285 projects in the local community with over €1.4 million.
The event highlight was a participant panel, which provided personal insight into the impact of these initiatives.
It featured Raymond McBride from Kilmacrennan Men’s Shed, Myra McAuliffe from Changemakers, Rose McDonagh from Donegal Travellers Project, Treasa Ní Ghal from Coiste Forbatha Chnoc Fola, and Alfiia, a participant on the “Manage My Home” course.
Rose shared the story of the ‘Trav Story Sacks’ project and described its powerful effect on Traveller women. She spoke about how the initiative sparked generational change, with mothers now bringing their children to local libraries and experiencing the pride of seeing their culture represented on the shelves.
The event encouraged networking, collaboration, and learning between groups, all of which are central to continuing the growth of community education across Donegal.
Pictured displaying the work of the Ramelton Sewing Bee are Margaret Hunter and Ann McGarvey at the Adult Literacy for Life conference held by the ETB in The Radisson Hotel, Letterkenny.
