Longford Women's Link is a dynamic community-based women's organisation. Our centre in Ardnacassa Avenue provides a relaxed, friendly and supportive setting for women to meet, learn and explore new opportunities. Our training courses are organised in response to the needs of local women, and are held at times to suit women's caring roles and responsibilities.
At LWL learners feel their ideas are respected, any question can be asked, and mistakes can be made without feeling embarrassed or judged.
All our Tutors deliver training using the Women's Community Education model - the WCE approach is woman-centred, and based on women learning from, as well as with, other women. The experience of each individual woman is valued. Women's Community Education ensures that women experience affirmation, recognition, dignity and leadership through their learning experience.
Longford Women's Link embraces Women's Community Education (WCE) visions, aspirations and goals. The vision, aspirations and goals of WCE guide and direct the practice of Women's Community Education.
The vision of women's community education is the achievement of equality for all women, regardless of their backgrounds, geographic location, country of birth, income, sexual identity, religious beliefs, citizenship status, abilities and interests, age, disabilities, ‘race' or ethnicity.
It defines its vision for women as the achievement of equality for women across the affective, cultural, economic and political spheres of life and the transformation of the structures and systems of society that are essential for this vision to be fulfilled. Women's community education is guided and directed by this vision for women.
Women's community education aspires to being:
Women's Community Education is committed to four goals
Women's community education commits to maintaining the cycle of celebration, empowerment, leadership and equality in its work and practice.
Celebration instills pride, confidence and ambition, recognises and acknowledges achievement, reflects and values diversity and makes women's achievements visible in the world.
Empowerment is built on the confidence, self-worth and visibility generated through celebration.The empowerment of women is supported and sustained by sharing ideas and knowledge, by valuing women, their participation and their collective voice.
Women's community education builds leadership through inclusion, consultation about needs and responses to needs. It gives leadership in maintaining the capacity, strength and confidence of women in their work for the achievement of equality. It takes leadership in challenging injustice, exclusion, and oppressive uses of power.
Women's community education works for equality through building awareness and through consultation and dialogue. Women's community education challenges the injustices, inequalities and barriers that exclude women from equal participation in the structures and systems of society.
Women's community education is rooted in four principles: -
Women's Community Education is grounded by its commitment to these principles. The four principles are the foundations on which the practice of women's community education is built.
Through commitment to these principles women's community education groups contribute to the achievement of the goals of WCE - celebration of women and women's community education, the empowerment of women, women's leadership and the achievement of equality for women.
