Fáilte Isteach brings volunteers and migrants together through conversational English classes, creating meaningful connections whilst helping newcomers integrate into their local communities.
Founded by Mary Nally in 2006, Fáilte Isteach has grown into a national programme operating in over 60 locations across 21 counties in Ireland. More than 600 volunteers currently provide weekly English classes to 2,000 migrant students from 74 different countries.
The programme emerged from research showing that local, accessible English classes for migrants were severely limited, whilst communities greatly benefited from increased migrant participation. Third Age Ireland developed this solution to utilise older adults' skills whilst addressing genuine community needs.
Experienced facilitators attend your first three sessions to ensure volunteers feel confident and supported. The initiative provides three learning booklets (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) at cost price, with initial materials provided free. Research consistently shows that everyday activities like visiting GPs, understanding school correspondence, and accessing services become significantly easier for participants.
Time:
As a leader you’ll need approximately 2 hours a week to get the classes up and running.
Fáilte Isteach is already up and running in 68 locations. There are always volunteers needed to help out, especially people who are interested in teaching English. If there are no Fáilte Isteach classes yet where you live you can start a new one. Learn how by downloading our free How-To Guide below and Register to Get Started
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