Community Education
The White Paper on Adult Education ‘Learning for Life’ (2000) describes Community Education as “a process of communal education towards empowerment, both at an individual and collective level, such an approach to Community Education sees it as an interactive challenging process not only in terms of its content but also in terms of its methodologies and decision making processes” (DES, 2000).
What is Community Education?
- Community Education is an opportunity for collective learning and development of a community.
- It aims to build the confidence and self-esteem of participants for future educational or developmental needs
- It aims to ensure that people have access to education in their own communities.
- The delivery and content of the course is tailored to meet the needs of the community
- It is an enjoyable and social of method of learning, to gain skills and qualifications and to meet new people and have fun!
The Community Education Programme in City of Galway VEC provides the following services to Community Groups:
- Community Education Grants Scheme – advise and support community groups to make applications for funding for Community Education Activities
- Assist groups in the planning and organising of courses, including assistance in contacting tutors, planning sessions and payment issues
- Bi Annual Newsletter for Community Groups on Community Education issues
- Networking Community Education Groups: Galway City Community Education Network was established in April 2006 see details below.
- Training for Community Education Tutors. City of Galway VEC, Galway City Partnership and NUI Galway are currently looking at certified training options for Community Education Tutors, more details will follow as available
- Galway Community Learning Festival will take place in 2007
- Representing the interests of Community Education in Galway City on a number of Local and National fora
- Research
For further information, contact:
Dónal Walsh
Community Education Facilitator
City of Galway V.E.C.
Island House
Cathedral Square
Galway
Telephone: + 353 (0) 91 549 448 or e-mail Dónal Walsh
Community Education Newsletter - September 2008 (pdf, 273 kbs)
Community Education Grant 2009 - Application Form (doc, 264 kbs)
Community Education Grant 2009 - Guidelines (doc, 380 kbs)