Honours for adult education groups

Two adult learning organisations have been short-listed for the AONTAS STAR awards, which highlight outstanding examples of adult education each year.
Ennis CDP Parent Support Programme and Scariff Community Garden Project are two of the three projects short-listed in the Munster local category.
The Ennis CDP Traveller Parent Support Programme was established in 2006 as a response to the need, identified by Traveller parents, for more supports with their children’s education. The aim is to support Traveller parents with their own and their children’s educational development.
Meanwhile, the Scariff Community Garden Project is aimed at creating a community space where people with an interest in gardening can work collectively and learn the necessary skills to promote the community. They are a voluntary led group who, over three years, have developed a community garden at the back of the East Clare Co-Op in Scariff.
Speaking on behalf of FETAC, Ann Devlin, one of the 16 judges adjudicating, said. “The standard of nominations was extremely high this year. It is real testament to the quality of these projects that they have been singled out by the judging panel for their achievements”.
The awards will be presented at a ceremony at No 6 Kildare Street on February 22. The awards ceremony itself marks the official opening of the AONTAS Adult Learners’ Festival 2010, a weeklong series of events around the country on the theme of adult learning. more information is available at www.adultlearnerfestival.com.
AONTAS is also operating a text line from February 1 to March 31 for adults looking to return to education. Text the word INFO with your name and address to 53377 and for the price of a text message you will receive a copy of the AONTAS information booklet free of charge.