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On the Road with the Community Education Network: Roscommon Women’s Network

29 Aug 2023
Roscommon Women’s Network (RWN) is a local community project and charity dedicated to supporting women and families in County Roscommon. Recently, our Adult Learning Initiative Officer Leo Gilmartin and our Membership & Digital Engagement Officer Brian Desmond went along to their "Community Conversation" workshop.

This consultation with the people and communities of Roscommon was held to build an understanding around the existing strengths and needs of the community in relation to sustainability.  

The workshop was delivered with the support of the Rediscovery Centre in Ballymun. RWN are involved with them through the “Empowering Communities in Circular Opportunities” ECCO project

This is a community-led climate action and resilience project that offers development and learning opportunities with communities in four locations across Ireland to start new circular economy projects.

The group sitting together at the recent Roscommon Women’s Network event
It will help communities to reduce waste in food, shopping, and recycling.  

RWN run an Upcycling Training Project at their base in Castlerea. The RWN Charity Shop is completely self-financing and fully run by volunteers. The proceeds go towards running RWN Resource Centre and supports for women and families around the county and beyond.  

The shop also tackles loneliness and isolation, providing a space for participation, rehabilitation, learning new skills and progressing into training, education and employment. 

During their visit, Leo and Brian were welcomed by Nora Fahy, manager of RWN. The event was facilitated by Michaela Donegan from the Rediscovery Centre, and Bobby McCormack of Development Perspectives.

A fantastic number of people attended the morning. There was a real diversity of adults and young people, including a group from Direct Provision, people who had retired, and young people connected to YouthWork Ireland.   

People were really interested in discussing transport in rural areas, as well as community spaces for young people and adults.  

Everyone there was encouraged to get involved in the project with the Rediscovery Centre. 

 

This blog is being shared as part of our #PutYourselfOnTheMap campaign, raising awareness of our new interactive map of community education centres and groups across Ireland. 

We want to tell everyone: Community Education is Here. 

Click here to find out more about our new Community Education Map and #PutYourselfOnTheMap today!

 This campaign is part of AONTAS' 2022-2023 project "Inclusive Recovery and Transformation: Adult Learning Post-COVID-19", as part of the New European Agenda for Adult Learning.