We have lived in a couple of places over the last few years including St Theresa’s Gardens in the city centre. When we lived there, I decided to check out the local Family Resource Centre. I signed up for parenting courses, drama classes, English classes, and I would help out with the kids club a couple of days a week. It really brought the community together. The biggest support was my kids being able to attend programmes in the centre which meant that I could do classes too. I loved it, I was there nearly every day of the week.
I came across a booklet for a local college and I’d look at all the courses available, I really wanted to do it but I felt scared of stuff like that. I didn’t have a Junior or Leaving Cert and I couldn’t afford a college course when I had the kids.
Our managers changed our shifts for us in work to make sure we had the time to attend classes
I got a job working for Woodies in the cash office. When a new IT system came in, I didn’t really understand how to use it – outside of the basics. Woodies were a great support, they connected with Skills for Work and myself and some of my work mates signed up for a computer course. Our managers even changed our shifts for us in work to make sure we had the time to attend classes.
The Skills for Work programme is amazing. They said at the very start, ‘tell us what you want’ and then they designed the course around us and our needs. It was brilliant! A set out course might have put me off but we got to choose what we learned. We learnt about emails, publisher, excel and basic computers. After the first phase we got to choose whether we wanted to do more of the general stuff or do a specific Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) level 4 programme. Myself and a few of the girls from work picked spreadsheets. We have class on Tuesday evenings, the tutors are great; so flexible, and always go out of their way to accommodate our needs.
I love being able to do it and I love that I can help others if they are stuck too
The course has helped me with lots of things. I’m now helping organise ‘Staff Member of the Month’ and I have a spreadsheet with tabs and lots of categories. I also made a ballot box for all the staff to vote. I organise the lotto syndicate for everyone too. It’s all so much easier now. I love being able to do it and I love that I can help others if they are stuck too.
The biggest battle with getting people back to education is the time. But if it’s something you really want to do, you’ll make time. Community education is so important – it brings people back together. It’s that first step, it’s the hardest. Education is like a door, once you open it you can open whatever door you want next. People think you’re locked in, but you’re not. You can choose what you want to learn and where you want to go next.
Getting a certificate makes you proud. It’s a little bit of recognition. You can look back on it and say yeah I did that – it’s important.
For people who are scared of doing a course, don’t be. You’re already learning every day of the week. It’s just that this time you get to pick what you want to learn.
