More than 800 women to be empowered into education and employment

More than 800 women across the country will be empowered into educational or employment pathways under the $1 million Mná na hÉireann, Women of Ireland Empowerment Fund, as five non-profit organisations are to receive funding.

The five innovative non-profits will support women who are experiencing multiple forms of disadvantage and discrimination, combating the deep barriers that face them in relation to accessing the labour market.

The awardee organisations announced are:

Higher education network EQUAL Ireland: Jobcare, working in Dublin’s inner city assisting those struggling with the effects of long-term unemployment.

Voluntary Community Development Organisation Meath Travellers’ Workshops, a partnership of Travellers and Settled people working together.

One Family, is a specialist service provider to people living in one-parent families.

Saoirse – Ethnic Hands on Deck, a social enterprise founded by migrant women living in direct provision and local communities across county Cork.

Building on the success of the previous Mná na hÉireann Women of Ireland Fund 2019–2022, which empowered more than 1,000 women into sustainable employment, this new iteration of the fund aims to support women facing intersecting forms of disadvantage who will benefit most from intensive wraparound support to enable them to transition into education or employment.

The Mná na hÉireann, Women of Ireland Empowerment Fund 2023–2026 is a $1 million (€950,000) fund created by Rethink Ireland in partnership with Bank of America and the Department of Rural and Community Development via the Dormant Accounts Fund.

This most recent commitment brings the total fund investment to €3.2 million.

Deirdre Mortell, CEO of Rethink Ireland said: “There can be no equality without equality for women. The Mná na hÉireann Empowerment Fund is dedicated to empowering women who are experiencing multiple forms of disadvantage and marginalisation.

“It is critical that we enable this group of women through education and employment, to change not only their lives but also the lives of their families. Moving women out of poverty and into decent work is the one-generation solution to poverty. This is the focus of the five non-profit organisations announced.

“The deep barriers that persist to equality for women are in the areas of care, education, employment and remuneration, all of which impact negatively on women’s economic mobility, compounding disadvantage. We’re delighted to continue our longstanding partnership with Bank of America and the Department of Rural and Community Development, in supporting organisations who aim to tackle these issues.”