Womens Community Projects celebrates 25 years
The Women's Community Project (Mullingar) Association Ltd was established in 1985. The project began by providing support to women to develop their potential in many fields for example, homemaking and educational programmes.The Project began 25 years ago in one room in the Social Services Centre. This project would not be possible without the dedication and hard work of many volunteers. Over the years Women's Community Projects has expanded, modified and diversified its activities, in line with the needs of woman in Mullingar and surrounding areas. Each year the project provides education and training opportunities to many women.Our aim is âto facilitate the empowerment of women through education, training and community enterprise development'.We run a VEC Adult Learning Project, a Back to Education Initiative (BTEI), a FAS Local Training Initiative (LTI) and a Community Employment Programme. Each year we host a celebration of achievement at a presentation night where certificates are presented to recipients of minor to major FETAC Level 3, 4, 5 and 6 Awards.On November 8th this year 180 people were presented with certificates. We provide a variety of ancillary supports including a counselling service and a state of the art childcare facility. Women's Community Project foster partnership and interagency collaborations with a number of state, community and voluntary organisations in order to provide learners with the best possible access to a range of learning opportunities.Every year we bring together women from many organisations to creatively celebrate International Women's Day. This year we were funded by Westmeath County Council to deliver a Community Arts interactive workshop.In 2010 we successfully applied for funding to deliver a programme of study funded under the Government Equality for Women Measure and for the first time we will be able to provide learners with an opportunity to complete a full FETAC Level 6 award in Supervisory Management Skills for Health Care Workers.Women's Community Project is now in existence 25 years. The project is developed and shaped by the evolving needs of generations of women learners. On December 10th we will celebrate 25 years of Women's Community Projects (Mullingar) Association Limited with the unveiling of a plaque by Mary O'Rourke TD who has always supported the endeavours of the project.