In 2023, the LifeLong Learning team in Dublin South City Partnership secured accreditation with Erasmus+, as a Community Adult Education provider. This results in funding each year to promote learning opportunities for the various teams of people we work with.

Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe.
The programme places a strong focus on social inclusion, the green and digital transitions, and promoting young people’s participation in democratic life.
It supports priorities and activities set out in the European Education Area, Digital Education Action Plan and the European Skills Agenda. The programme also supports the European Pillar of Social Rights.

Having accreditation is providing us with the opportunity to widen our horizons, as learners and practitioners in adult education; to see how other countries and organisations work and what they do; and to share our experience both away and when we come back.

In October 2024 a group of 5 learners and 2 staff went to visit the Centro Provinciale Istruzione Adulti schools (C.P.I.A 1) in Siena, Poggibonsi and Monteroni d’Arbia in Italy.

We had a an unique opportunity to participate in classes and activities designed for the migrants newly arriving in the country. These included language classes, cultural orientation and essential skills to help the learners to adapt to their new surroundings. Our interactions with the migrant students were eye opening as their shared diverse backgrounds, aspirations and challenges they faced in the new country.

This experience highlighted the vital role that adult education plays in fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment for migrants and it underscored the importance of inclusive, culturally responsive education in building cohesive communities. And we also had an amazing opportunity to immerse ourselves in the culture of the Contrades, try fantastic Tuscan cuisine and even briefly see the Leaning Tower of Pisa! Below are some pictures from this trip.