Page 219 - Guerin Media Ltd | Active Retirement Ireland Members Annual 2016
P. 219
THIRD AGE FÁILTE ISTEACH STAY CONNECTED
FÁILTE ISTEACH
Fáilte Isteach is a community project involving predominantly older volunteers welcoming migrants through free
conversational English classes. The programme benefits from the skills, talents and expertise of older volunteers and their
desire to contribute positively to society. It is a programme of Third Age, a national voluntary organisation that responds
to the opportunities and challenges of ageing in Ireland.
Fáilte Isteach succeeds in breaking down the barriers that Fáilte Isteach classes take place over two hours each week
migrants and communities face by extending the hands of during the academic year. No prior teaching
friendship and goodwill through the practical, welcoming experience is required. If you can speak English fluently,
and inclusive manner in which the programme is delivered. have some time to spare and enjoy immersing yourself in
It is providing more than the transfer of skills and new cultures while welcoming migrants into your
knowledge. The project is filling a vital social and community - you are fully qualified! You will be supplied
educational need, and in many cases is the only service with teaching materials and be fully supported in your
addressing this need in certain locations. role. Classes are conversation-focused, aim to be
Now in its ninth year, the project has grown from a local, encouraging and are student-centred.
rural project to a national initiative with a presence in 22
counties and 74 groups nationwide. The programme was Marcella Sheridan has been volunteering with Fáilte
established by Third Age in Summerhill, Co Meath in Isteach for over six years: “At this stage in my life, Fáilte
October 2006 in response to the daily difficulties that Isteach has given me an outlet to put my skills and
migrants were experiencing integrating into the local experience to good use. It means a lot, and has given me
community through a lack of English language skills. a lot. As well as knowing I am helping others, I am also
Following its success as a pilot project with twelve benefiting greatly – through the friendships I have made,
volunteer tutors and seven students, Fáilte Isteach was the different cultures and customs I have learned about,
launched nationally in 2008. Today there are 750 volunteer and, as I’ve said, through the opportunity it gives me to
tutors teaching conversational English to more than 2,200 continue to do something really worthwhile”.
migrant students each week. In 2014, 40,000 hours of free
English language tuition were delivered nationally. As well as benefiting volunteers, Fáilte Isteach is making a
Áine Brady, CEO of Third Age gives a thoughtful real social and economic difference in the lives of its
perspective on the value of the programme: “Imagine what migrant students. Language fluency is helping new
it must be like to live in a country where you don’t know migrants find work and so take their place and contribute
the language,” she says “Think how cut off and isolated you to Irish life. In today’s Ireland Fáilte Isteach is filling a vital
would feel at times. Consider how difficult it would be to and educational need, and enriching every community of
manage day to day – to shop, to get about, to pay your bills, which it is part.
to visit the doctor, never mind helping your children with
their homework. Being part of Fáilte Isteach has helped Fáilte Isteach regularly welcomes new volunteers to its
our migrants to achieve all these positive changes - and existing groups nationwide and also supports individuals
more. and organisations interested in setting up a new group in
“Through their dedication and enthusiasm in helping their area.
our migrants improve their English language skills, our
volunteers are helping to build stronger, more integrated For further information on joining an existing group or
communities, and are making a real and lasting difference setting up a new group, visit www.thirdageireland.ie
to community cohesion in the areas in which they live”, she or call 046-9558497 to chat to a member of the
said. Fáilte Isteach team.
www.activeirl.ie Active Retirement Ireland 219
FÁILTE ISTEACH
Fáilte Isteach is a community project involving predominantly older volunteers welcoming migrants through free
conversational English classes. The programme benefits from the skills, talents and expertise of older volunteers and their
desire to contribute positively to society. It is a programme of Third Age, a national voluntary organisation that responds
to the opportunities and challenges of ageing in Ireland.
Fáilte Isteach succeeds in breaking down the barriers that Fáilte Isteach classes take place over two hours each week
migrants and communities face by extending the hands of during the academic year. No prior teaching
friendship and goodwill through the practical, welcoming experience is required. If you can speak English fluently,
and inclusive manner in which the programme is delivered. have some time to spare and enjoy immersing yourself in
It is providing more than the transfer of skills and new cultures while welcoming migrants into your
knowledge. The project is filling a vital social and community - you are fully qualified! You will be supplied
educational need, and in many cases is the only service with teaching materials and be fully supported in your
addressing this need in certain locations. role. Classes are conversation-focused, aim to be
Now in its ninth year, the project has grown from a local, encouraging and are student-centred.
rural project to a national initiative with a presence in 22
counties and 74 groups nationwide. The programme was Marcella Sheridan has been volunteering with Fáilte
established by Third Age in Summerhill, Co Meath in Isteach for over six years: “At this stage in my life, Fáilte
October 2006 in response to the daily difficulties that Isteach has given me an outlet to put my skills and
migrants were experiencing integrating into the local experience to good use. It means a lot, and has given me
community through a lack of English language skills. a lot. As well as knowing I am helping others, I am also
Following its success as a pilot project with twelve benefiting greatly – through the friendships I have made,
volunteer tutors and seven students, Fáilte Isteach was the different cultures and customs I have learned about,
launched nationally in 2008. Today there are 750 volunteer and, as I’ve said, through the opportunity it gives me to
tutors teaching conversational English to more than 2,200 continue to do something really worthwhile”.
migrant students each week. In 2014, 40,000 hours of free
English language tuition were delivered nationally. As well as benefiting volunteers, Fáilte Isteach is making a
Áine Brady, CEO of Third Age gives a thoughtful real social and economic difference in the lives of its
perspective on the value of the programme: “Imagine what migrant students. Language fluency is helping new
it must be like to live in a country where you don’t know migrants find work and so take their place and contribute
the language,” she says “Think how cut off and isolated you to Irish life. In today’s Ireland Fáilte Isteach is filling a vital
would feel at times. Consider how difficult it would be to and educational need, and enriching every community of
manage day to day – to shop, to get about, to pay your bills, which it is part.
to visit the doctor, never mind helping your children with
their homework. Being part of Fáilte Isteach has helped Fáilte Isteach regularly welcomes new volunteers to its
our migrants to achieve all these positive changes - and existing groups nationwide and also supports individuals
more. and organisations interested in setting up a new group in
“Through their dedication and enthusiasm in helping their area.
our migrants improve their English language skills, our
volunteers are helping to build stronger, more integrated For further information on joining an existing group or
communities, and are making a real and lasting difference setting up a new group, visit www.thirdageireland.ie
to community cohesion in the areas in which they live”, she or call 046-9558497 to chat to a member of the
said. Fáilte Isteach team.
www.activeirl.ie Active Retirement Ireland 219
