Mary McAleese, President of Ireland will launch the Third Age Foundation’s Failte Isteach Project on Wednesday 28 February 2007 at 11 am in Summerhill Community Centre, Co. Meath. This project involves 15 older people, as volunteers, providing conversational English classes for Non-Irish nationals from around the Summerhill area.

The Third Age Foundation has a long history of involvement in innovative and unusual programmes, designed specifically to meet identified local needs. "Our members are often the backbone of these projects in the way they enthusiastically volunteer their time and skills," says Mary Nally, Third Age Foundation, Chairperson. The Failte Isteach Project is no exception. It began in October 2006 when local people noticed that the growing Non-Irish-National community were experiencing difficulties in their social and working lives, due to limited or non-existent English.

In response, the older volunteers from the Third Age Foundation offered to provide conversational English classes for these new residents each Tuesday night. The invitation was positively received and since the project began, there has been a steady increase in the numbers availing of this service. These days the Foundation building can sound like a league of nations with people from Poland, Lithuania, Italy, Argentina, France, Germany, Moldova and China coming to talk, listen and learn. Each week a relevant topic is chosen, such as visiting the doctor, shopping, attending a parent-teacher meeting, or the work place.

Speaking about the project, Mary Nally said it has made a tremendous difference to the lives of all of those involved. "It has increased the confidence levels of our volunteers, many who would not have seen themselves in the role of tutor until now. It has dramatically improved the quality of life for 30 of our new community residents, who had been struggling with the kind of day to day things we take for granted, such as asking for directions, helping their child with homework or explaining symptoms to the doctor. It has added immeasurably to community life in Summerhill, and helped us all get to know one another. The project has been a challenge, but a challenge that has been well worth embracing," she says.