Tag Archive | women

Women in the Home New Beginnings Course

Feb4

“When one door closes, another opens”

NCCWN-Donegal Women’s Network are pleased to be taking bookings for Women in the Home…New Beginnings course. This is a FREE 8 week course commencing in Bundoran on 3rd April, and will be facilitated by the fabulous Emilywhelancoaching, Leading Life Coach & Motivational Speaker.

The aim of this course is to support women in life-long learning opportunities. Promoting personal development, well-being and positive mental health.

Who is this course for?

• Women who left the workforce and did not return, for example women who left to start a family
• Women unemployed and seeking only part-time work
• Women in unpaid work in the home
• Women who are unemployed and not looking for immediate paid work, for example, someone full-time at home looking after a young family and/or other dependent
•Women getting a disability payment

Venue: Bundoran Community Development CLG
Dates: Wednesday 3rd, 10th, 17th of April,
1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th of May 2019 
Time: 10.00am-1.00pm

If you are interested in participating in this programme please fill in our form here and someone will be in contact with you.

For further information please contact NCCWN Donegal Women’s Network by email on donegalwomensnetwork@gmail.com or 074 9722790. Booking is essential, book early to avoid disappointment.

This course is funded through DLDC under the under SICAP.

Gender Justice Community Education Programme

Jan30

NCCWN Donegal Women’s Network are pleased to announce that we will be facilitating workshops as part of the Peace IV ‘Liberation From Patriarchy For Gender Justice Programme’ here in Donegal. Workshops will begin late February and end mid-April.

This is an engaging and empowering informal community education programme which will look at the topic of patriarchy and gender inequality.

Over the 6 sessions and event seminar participants will;

  1. Begin an educational journey to raise awareness and understanding of patriarchy.
  2. Explore the roots, dynamics and nature of patriarchy.
  3. Make connections between women’s own experiences and how patriarchy impacts on their lives.
  4. Explore the ways in which systems and structures have and can be challenged to achieve gender justice.

If you would like to sign up for this Free 6 workshop sessions (21st, 28th February, 7th, 21st March, 4th, 11th April) plus attending a seminar event in Derry City 14th March, please fill in this online form here and we will get in contact with you.

Putting Women’s Equality Centre Stage

Sep19

WEAR PRESS RELEASE 2017.pngThe NCCWN Donegal Women’s Network warmly invites you to attend their WEAR (Women’s Equality Awareness Raising) seminar, an event which is part of a wider project that the Network has been delivering this year.   This seminar will be held in the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny on 28th September 2017 from 12.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. everyone welcome.

In 2017 it remains a reality that globally women and girls can often face gender-based discrimination which increases their risk of experiencing poverty, violence, poor health and a lack of an education. While research also shows us there is a link between development, poverty eradication and women’s equality.

To create awareness to this issue and support women’s equality NCCWN-Donegal Women’s Network, developed The WEAR project, with the funding support of the educational development awareness, EU Ladder Project.

Since April the WEAR project held a 5-week workshop series in Letterkenny, working with women from across Donegal, where participants looked at topics on poverty, health, education, gender based violence and decision-making, through interactive activities and group discussions.

Working with young people is critical if we are to influence change and embed gender equality as a core value within our society.

Through the WEAR project over 80 Transition Year Students from Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana  and Moville Community College participated in a ‘Gender Equality and Development’ awareness workshop.  As both schools have Global Development incorporated into their curriculum the students who participated in WEAR  now have a better understanding of gender equality to inform their reflective learning and development.

Educational Development is about increasing awareness and understanding of the rapidly changing, inter-dependent and unequal world in which we live. The WEAR project has afforded the participants to learn about the structures and systems that impact on their lives and the connections of these to those in developing countries. While providing the opportunity for people to engage in analysis and reflection; recognising local action can assist and sustain global development to help to create a just and more equal world.

The WEAR seminar will share and reflect on the projects learning and look at the ways as a community we can help advance women’s equality locally and globally.

To book a place, please contact: NCCWN Donegal Women’s Network, 6 Tír Chonaill Street, Donegal Town. Tel No: 0749722790 Email: donwomnet@eircom.net

Happy Nollaig na mBán

Jan6

This blog first featured in the Women’s Lives section of the Donegal Democrat in January 2015, By Samantha O’R

While waiting to be served in a shop I overheard two young women talking about how they had survived Christmas.

One woman had a young child in a buggy. He was smiling and happy with the attention being given to him by his mother and her friend.

In the discussions about managing over Christmas, I heard that both women spent Christmas at their mothers’, with one of the women saying “Sure where else would you go.”

This statement got me thinking. I was immediately struck by the thought /feeling/question: do mothers in particular get put upon at Christmas time without being asked?

Is there an assumption that mothers will automatically accept all-comers without prior arrangements or request. I know it is the season of goodwill and giving hospitality to visitors and family is a noble thing/gesture to do. But somehow the expectation is there; food, drink, accommodation, presents, babysitting, etc.

Perhaps young women would consider asking their mothers before Christmas “would it be okay to spend Christmas with them” as a courtesy and a consideration rather than as a given.

Little Christmas exemplifies the need for all women to get together for their own celebration after the sometimes burden and mayhem of big Christmas.

In celebration of the feast of the Epiphany in Ireland, January 6th is marked by Nollaig na mBan or Women’s Little Christmas. It is the tradition in Ireland that on this day for the women to get together and enjoy their own Christmas, while the men folk stay at home and handle all the chores. It is also common for children to buy their mothers and grandmothers presents on this day, though this custom is gradually being overtaken by Mother’s Day.

Although Nollaig na mBan is slowly dying out in many parts of Ireland, in Co. Cork, the tradition is still very strong. Many bars and restaurants in Cork City report a near 100% female clientele on this day, as the Corkonian women meet up with girl friends, sisters, aunts and mothers to celebrate their own little Christmas with Nollaig na mBan.

In Sligo, women got together in Osta Café and Wine Bar for the celebration and proceeds from fundraising on the night donated to Domestic Violence Service Sligo. Women in Ballyshannon also took the opportunity to mark this occasion and leave the menfolk at home.

In Donegal Town, Anne Leonard, who is part of the Walking Women of Donegal and The Mountcharles Heritage Group decided ‘to the take the bull by the horns’ this year and organise one.

“It was only last year when the Walking Women’s group first heard about it and agreed we must do something for 2014,” she said.

“So when nothing was happening I decided to get the ball rolling. I texted women I knew ‘I’m going if anyone wants to join me, let me know’.”

Over 35 women attended a sit down meal in the Abbey Hotel. A raffle was also organised and the €220 raised has been donated to Childline.

Little Christmas Donegal Town

Some of the Ladies who attended the Women’s Little Christmas Donegal Event in 2015

Eileen McGonigle said: “It was great fun and great to connect with women you hadn’t met for a long time as well as getting to know others better.” So good was the night that the Abbey Hotel already has a booking for 6th January 2015. Anne said: “It was a marvellous night, we had women travel from Ballyshannon and Glencolmcille. I hope we will have more women to celebrate with us next year.”

What a lovely way to start the year celebrating with other women and appreciating each other’s company.

We know that Christmas can be a stressful time but perhaps mothers at Christmas need a little bit of consideration before everyone descends on the home with a view that everything will be done and an attitude of “Sure where else would you go”. Alternatives on a postcard please!