• Social Entrepreneurs Ireland  

• Dept. of Family and Community Affairs

• JP McManus Fund  

• Further Education Development Unit

Back to Education Initiative (Community Strand)

• Waldorf School Mannheim   

• Software Foundation, Darmstadt, Germany

• The Ireland Funds

• The Dept. of Social, Community and Family Affairs

• The Sisters of Mercy

Charity Name:

Registered Charity Number:

Date of Registration:

Ard Aoibhinn Community Initiatives Limited

352829

19 Feb 2002

Address of Charity:

The Ralahine Building, Main Street, Scarriff, Co Clare

Board of Directors

Tonia Kusters - Chairperson

Kieran Dooley

Pearse O’Shiel

Phoenix Koomans O’Reilly

Aims and Mission of the Charity:

The Main Objects for which the Company is established are:

• To Challenge the causes of poverty, social exclusion, educational and social disadvantage by developing alternative methods and models of working which seek to directly involve and empower groups and individuals within the community of East Clare
• To promote and develop locally based opportunities for personal, social, educational, artistic and community development for individuals and families in East Clare.
• The advancement of education and personal development for youth who are either not benefiting from being in, or are not in, mainstream education.

Ard Aoibhinn has three active Projects under its umbrella at present:

The Alfa Project – Active Learning For Adolescents.  Alfa is a fulltime education project for 13-16 year olds.  Alfa works through active learning to give a full and holistic education to its students at this crucial age, to encourage in them an interest in their own, life long learning, with a view to them entering the Leaving Cert Cycle or other further education on completion of their time with Alfa.  Alfa first opened its doors in September 2001.

The Fishbowl Youth Group – a very successful local youth club and cultural exchange group for teenagers aged 15yrs and up, where the young people themselves, with the guidance and support of the group leaders, have an active role in the management, running and decision making process of the group.

Clai – Clare Lifesharing Initiative – an initiative to support people with special needs living in community.  Clai have just purchased their first house, in Mountshannon, with the support of the HSE.