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More than 100 local people were recognised at a special event in Inishowen last Wednesday as Inishowen Development Partnership hosted the “Celebration of Learners” event to honour those who completed training in 2024.
The celebration event took place at the Inishowen Gateway Hotel in Buncrana, where course participants and their families gathered to celebrate their dedication to learning and personal growth.
A variety of QQI accredited courses which IDP coordinate with support and accreditation provided by Donegal ETB’s Community Education Support Programme were featured including Payroll, Bookkeeping, Community Development, Environmental Sustainability, Early Childhood Studies and Local & Global Development.
However, the loudest cheers on the night went to the young adults from iAdult in Buncrana and Donegal Horizons in Carndonagh who had completed IT training and Employability Skills with IDP staff members last year.
A key part of the night was hearing the Learner Voices. Joanna Campbell from Donegal Horizons said she had ‘great craic’ at the Employability Skills Workshops that she and her classmates did with IDP last year.
“I really enjoyed learning about the different types of jobs and how it can help me in my own work,” said Joanna.
“We learned how to put a CV together and I found it informative, fun and enjoyable.”
Anne Omodara took part in two training courses with ChangeMakers Donegal –an Irish Aid Global Citizenship Education initiative, led by IDP with partners, Donegal ETB, Trocaire, Self Help Africa and Concern Worldwide, saying that that she learned that local concerns are also global concerns and that change only comes from ourselves.
A native of Nigeria but now living in Letterkenny, Anne said she had so many fears when moving to a new country and learning new cultures but engaging with the course helped her realise that “everyone is the same irrespective of your nationality”.
Similarly, Kieran McHugh, a volunteer with Moville Tidy Towns and professional landscape gardener, took part the Environmental Sustainability Awareness course delivered by Donegal ETB in conjunction with IDP and ChangeMakers Donegal.
He said this course helped reaffirm his belief that we need to make changes in how we do things and respect our environment.
“The idea of having a manicured lawn or a particular flower, despite its pollen contents, needs to be changed as this is doing damage to the environment,” said Kieran.
“Letting the grass grow longer or having flowers which are kind to our pollinators are necessary. We learned from each other and shared tips – it was thought provoking and shocking.”
Gisell Hutcheson talked about how she joined the CE Childcare Scheme in 2019 through IDP where she was encouraged to take part in training delivered by Donegal ETB before progressing to ATU in Letterkenny and successfully completing her BA Hons Degree in Early Years Care, Health, and Education.
Gisell talked about how the CE Scheme gave her the confidence to become the first woman in her family to learn how to drive and how she has since secured full-time employment in Cockhill, a place she says has been so instrumental in her development.
She encouraged others to consider joining the CE Childcare Scheme as it ‘empowered her’ to build a career for herself and earn qualifications. Contact details for this are through IDPs Pauline Coyle at Pauline@inishowen.ie
Joint CEO of Inishowen Development Partnership, Shauna McClenaghan, said the idea of community education was multifaceted but it was wonderful to hear the journeys and connections that community education provides.
“Community education provides opportunities for shared learning and skills development, leading not just to personal outcomes but community development and sustainable practices,” said Shauna.
Shauna paid tribute to Donegal ETB for being a ‘long-time partner’ in community education support programmes throughout Inishowen for many years and noted the valued partnership.
Guest speaker, Catherine Friel, Community Education Facilitator with Donegal ETB said through their Community Education Programme they supported 16 different organisations in Inishowen to deliver 90 courses involving more than 800 learners.
“Staff at Donegal ETB are keenly aware of the challenges many adults face when returning to education,” said Catherine, “but by engaging with organisations such as IDP we can bring our courses into the community and make it more accessible for the people that need it most. These events help showcase the benefits of our partnership and the wider societal impact further education and training has on our communities”, added Catherine.
Both IDP and Donegal ETB expressed their commitment to continuing to offer educational support and programmes that empower individuals and address their needs throughout the Inishowen region.
Meanwhile Donegal ETB are holding their Further Education and Training Fair in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Letterkenny on Tuesday evening, 4th March (7pm – 9pm) and Wednesday, 5th March, 10am – 2.00pm for anyone who is interested in finding out more about their upcoming opportunities.
