Thursday, 24 July, 2008

Celebrate Learning – The AONTAS STAR Awards - Showcasing Teamwork, Awarding Recognition

The STAR Awards

Mick Power with Donegal ProjectThe STAR Awards Ceremony marks the official launch of the Festival. We will be celebrating the achievements of adult learners and projects in style at Dublin Castle on Monday 2nd February.The Festival will be officially opened by Minister for Lifelong Learning Sean Haughey TD. Projects in fourteen different categories will be presented with their awards.


AONTAS understands adult learning to be 'all forms of learning undertaken by adults after having left initial education and training' (Communication from the European Commission: Adult Learning: It Is Never Too Late To Learn,2006). Nominated projects involve initiatives, resources or group work. Projects may come from adult learning organisations, community and voluntary groups, the private sector, government agencies, statutory bodies and non-government organisations.

The purpose of the learning involved in nominated projects can be personal fulfilment, social change, active citizenship,environmental sustainability, cultural and intercultural awareness and knowledge, skills development, personal development, human rights education, community development, community regeneration, health and well-being and employment in related fields.

Last year the amount of projects nominated amounted to over three times the number received last year - which really demonstrates why this initiative is so important.

Winners of Last Years Awards....

CONNAUGHT PROVINCIAL OR COUNTY WIDE REACH

Survival English

This project delivered a series of English language lessons using the medium of radio.  The programme specifically targeted non Irish nationals living in the Castlebar area, and was based around everyday situations such as a visit to the doctor or attending a job interview.  The programme is accompanied by a workbook and is also available on CD.

CONNAUGHT LOCAL OR COMMUNITY BASED REACH

North Leitrim Women’s Centre CDP

The North Leitrim Women’s Centre pro-actively promotes the inclusion of women by supporting and developing their empowerment through a range of women centred training and activities on a diverse range of topics

DUBLIN COUNTY WIDE REACH

Soilse

Soilse is an addiction rehabilitation service which provides a specialized training and education programme for recovering addicts.  The programme includes addiction and recovery education, personal and social development, creative development, personal exploration, health and fitness and vocational guidance.

DUBLIN LOCAL OR COMMUNITY BASED REACH

Kilbarrack Coast Community Project

Kilbarrack Coast Community Project uses education as a means of assisting recovering drug mis-users to reintegrate back into society and the labour market.  The project also encourages members of staff to engage in further education.

LEINSTER PROVINCIAL OR COUNTY WIDE REACH

The Inter Community Partnership (Community Development Agency)

The project aims to bring together community organisations and looks at the way of tackling local needs especially those associated with the most marginalized. The group has developed into a support agency for local community groups and provides support in the areas of training, community development and a number of other areas.

LEINSTER LOCAL LOCAL OR COMMUNITY BASED REACH

Parents Education Programme

This programme based in Wicklow aims to education disadvantaged parents. It is a holistic, focusing on the development of emotional, social, psychological needs of participants.

MUNSTER PROVINCIAL OR COUNTY WIDE REACH

Community Education Section WIT

The project was developed in the mid 90’s as a response to a need identified during the delivery of the NOW European Union Programme. The programme was designed to recognize the experience women already had in their communities and that would give them a third level qualification that would be delivered at a time and place that suited.

MUNSTER LOCAL OR COMMUNITY BASED REACH

Parent Support Programme

The Knockanrawley Parent Support Programme arose out of a need to support parents in Tipperary, particularly those experiencing any form of disadvantage. It involves a combination of personal support and educational programmes e.g. Positive Parenting Programme.

ULSTER PROVINCIAL OR COUNTY WIDE REACH

The Shout Project

The Shout Project is designed to improve the lives of people with Down’s Syndrome through better public education by developing an innovative training programme aimed at building social inclusion and increasing public awareness of the condition

ULSTER LOCAL OR COMMUNITY BASED REACH

Letterkenny Community Development Project

The Community Development Programme was established in the Glencar / Ballyboe area of Letterkenny in June 1996. Its aim is to establish, promote and operate a community development programme, which will act as a focus and catalyst for community development for the people of Letterkenny

NATIONWIDE

Integrate Ireland Language and Training

Integrate Ireland Language and Training is involved in all stages of language and integration training provision to holders of Stamp 4 from induction courses for newly arrived programme refugee groups in centres around Ireland designed and delivered by IILT for the Reception and Integration Agency, through English with Literacy classes and English for Living and Working in Ireland courses delivered in IILT centres and in partnership with local agencies around the country to Pre-Vocational and Academic courses, all designed to enable learners to make the transition to the workplace or mainstream training and education as efficiently as possible.

When will the winning projects for 2009 be known?

The judges will meet in January 2009 to decide on the winning projects, and AONTAS staff members will contact those projects to inform them of the judges decision. All nominated projects will be invited to send representatives to the awards ceremony on February 2nd and will also be given a certificate.