Mother Tongues delight with €20,000 Impact Award

A TALLAGHT-based social enterprise has won €20,000 and a place on Social Entrepreneurs Ireland’s Impact Awards programme.

Based in Rua Red, Mother Tongues creates and delivers training and resources in the areas of multiculturism and bilingualism.

Founded by Dr Francesca La Morgia, Mother Tongues is one of five organisations, out of 110 applications, to successfully pitch for a place on this year’s programme.

More than 100 different languages are spoken in Ireland, with three children, on average, in every classroom speaking a language other than English or Irish at home daily.

Mother Tongues uses languages as tools to promote multiculturism, helping to build more ‘inclusive, successfully integrated’ communities.

The project also ‘combats racism and social isolation by breaking down barriers to participation in cultural activities’ through advocacy, art and education.

Speaking about the Impact Award win, Dr La Morgia said: “I feel that the work we do has huge potential to make a long-lasting change in Irish society and this SEI award to me means that we will be able to focus our efforts to increase our impact and extend our reach.”

Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI) Impact Award is a nine-month accelerator programme that identifies high-potential social entrepreneurs, supporting them through significant funding and mentoring.

Awardees receive training in areas such as fundraising, governance, leadership and storytelling.

Since its foundations, SEI has supported more than 400 social entrepreneurs nationwide in moving from idea to action, including Tallaght-based social enterprise FoodCloud.

For further information visit socialentrepreneurs.ie