Learners As Leaders (LAL) is funded through the (New) European Agenda for Adult Learning, for which AONTAS is the national co-ordinator in Ireland.
This means that such programmes are happening all across Europe.
We are committed to making learners’ experience the cornerstone of policy-making for Government and politicians in Ireland and internationally, with the goal of making education more equal and accessible for all.
2024 was a year of elections and political change. We will have local and European elections in June, and potentially a General Election later in the year. The referendum on removing the reference in the Irish constitution to women’s ‘life within the home’ will also take place on 8th March. And, given the concerning rise of far-right movements in Ireland at the moment, we’re working to raise awareness about what’s happening in Irish politics, and provide adult learners with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions.
In February, we invited selected members of the Community Education Network (CEN) to take part in training at Maynooth University on how to design and deliver a programme in voter education and active citizenship, in partnership with DALC (Dublin Adult Literacy Centre). The groups involved went on to develop six-week programmes with learners.
13 groups took part overall, and went on to develop their own programmes for learners in their centres. One of these groups was Belmayne Community Group. They organise education initiatives and activities for the local community in Belmayne, Dublin 13. Their Voter Education Group was part of a social inclusion voting campaign. This course equipped residents from the Belmayne area with the knowledge and attitudes necessary to continue their work as leaders in their community. It was organized and delivered by Michelle McGoldrick, a passionate advocate for adult education and community initiatives.
Belmayne Community Group have been working actively to facilitate engagements between local people and local representatives. They invited local candidates to canvass potential voters in the social housing apartment blocks in the area. Normally, election candidates wouldn't have access to the people in the apartments. Voter turnover has previously been quite low in Belmayne, and this has a direct impact on resources allocated to the area. The Voter Education Group engaged more people, showing them why voting matters, and the changes it can make.
Read more about this programme, which culminated in a visit to the Dáil last year.
Another programme on Voter Education was run by Women’s Collective Ireland (WCI) Ronanstown and Women’s Collective Ireland (WCI) Mullingar/Women’s Community Projects, Mullingar. Collectively, they brought together brought perspectives form an urban area and a rural area. Participants learned about local elections and the voting process. They talked about the issues coming up in relation to the General Election, and the benefits and difficulties of being part of the European Union. Read more about this programme here.
What’s next?
This year, we will have further opportunities with the Learners As Leaders programme. More information will be available soon. Keep an eye on our website for updates.
Read more about Learners As Leaders here.
This project is funded through the New European Agenda for Adult Learning (NEAAL)
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
