Monasterevin hosts fantastic celebration of Kildare learning

An amazing celebration of community education and learning took place in Monasterevin Community Centre on Tuesday March 5.

The thriving centre was a hive of activity from early morning as it played host to well over a hundred people as part of the AONTAS Adult Learners' Festival 2024 which was organised by the Community Education service of Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board. 

Their focus for this year’s event was 'Sharing our Learning' and a cross-section of learner groups from as far north as Maynooth and south as Athy showcased what they have achieved. The groups displayed their experiences in Horticulture, Woodturning, Global Citizenship, Citizen Engagement including voter registration, Ceramics, Glass Painting, Willow work, Basketmaking, Felting, Wellbeing, Digital Skills including leaning how to use a smartphone, and more.

It highlighted the positive contribution community education has made to their personal well-being and their wider communities and society. One participant in her 80’s proudly displayed her first ever educational certificate for participating in a Digital Skills smartphone class whilst others talked about the confidence and well-being that taking part in Community Education had given them. 

The participating groups were Platinum Clubhouse Newbridge, Knit and Knatter Monasterevin, Sallins Womens Shed, Woodstock Wonders Athy (a partnership between Irish Wheelchair Association-Athy and Athy Community Family Resource Centre), Midland Chapter of the Woodturners Guild, Maynooth Mens' Shed, Irish Wheelchair Association Clane, Eve Larine Maynooth, Monasterevin Womens Shed, and Eve Harvest Hub from Kildare Town. But many other groups also joined in the festivities like Sharing Skills from Celbridge, Leixlip Womens Shed and Mná Beoga from Ballykelly. 

Attendees described how wonderful it was to meet other groups, many of the community education tutors and the staff from KWETB Community Education. Many ideas were shared including a presentation from Conor O’Leary, Acting Community Education Facilitator with KWETB on the REACH 2024 funding. The REACH Fund is funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and aims to provide funding to support educationally disadvantaged learners in accessing and participating in community education. It aims to increase the participation of disadvantaged learners, particularly those who are undertaking literacy and skills programmes. Further guidelines and the application form can be accessed on the KWETB web-site at  https://kildarewicklow.etb.ie/reach-fund-2024-call-for-applications/ 

A special guest on the day was Mary Errity from The Money, Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) who explained what they can offer to individuals but also the possibility of providing educational opportunities to groups around the various topics which make up financial wellbeing. The morning concluded with each group being invited to speak about their experiences in Community Education and a round of thanks to everyone for making the event possible including the fantastic staff of the Community Centre itself. 

Anyone interested in finding out more about Community Education can do so by looking at the website.