Athlone Integration & Wellbeing Network

03/10/2026

On Saturday, October 3rd, the volunteer group "Integration & Wellbeing Athlone" invites you to a meeting where we continue to build a community of active and engaged people in Athlone.

Our upcoming plans:
1. An event marking the UN International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (October 17th), as part of a public awareness initiative regarding the UN International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (2026).
2. A business forum on October 10, 2026.
3. Our victory in the annual "New Solution" competition and our "M&M" (Migrant to Migrant) initiative—providing training and support to help migrants and refugees find new employment opportunities and launch their own projects.
4. ERASMUS – training and volunteering opportunities across various countries.

Our focus areas:
· Education for adults and youth.
· Environment/Ecology.
· Social entrepreneurship.

Each area needs dedicated people. That person could be you!

Come along to learn about our new projects—you might just find one that speaks to you.
📍 Where: "Harvest Homemade" café
(Athlone Shopping Centre, 2nd floor – take the elevator to Level 1)
📍 When: Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 10:30 AM

Or message me at

29/09/2026

OUR SEPTEMBER RECOGNITION CARD WINNER!

We are delighted to announce that our September Recognition Card goes to Iuliia Stezhko, an active and dedicated leader from Arts & Wellbeing Drogheda!

Congratulations, Iuliia!
Thank you for your energy, commitment and valuable contribution to our community!

Our Recognition Card is a special way of saying THANK YOU to those who actively support our organisation, promote our activities, share our mission and help our Network grow.
The card is valid for 6 months, offering free participation in our events and priority access to new projects and opportunities, subject to their conditions.

We believe that every contribution matters. Every shared post, every event, every new idea and every helping hand makes our Network stronger.
Thank you to everyone who supports us. Together, we are stronger!
Would you like to receive our next Recognition Card?
👉 Apply here https://forms.gle/6tWV4NP3MqwcQaSY8

25/09/2026

We are delighted to share some wonderful news: our organization has become part of an initiative marking the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, observed on October 17th.

With the support of the Department of Social Protection, we are implementing the project *Ireland Remembers: Stories of Home, Hardship and Solidarity*.

It is a great honor for us to participate in this important national initiative. The selection process was challenging, but our team rose to the occasion!

A huge thank you to everyone for your hard work, ideas, support, and contributions to our shared success!
You are the best!

20/09/2026

Друзья, у нас потрясающие новости! Наш Бизнес-форум официально откроет мэр Дрохеды!

Мы невероятно рады сообщить, что Cllr Declan Power, Mayor of the Borough District of Drogheda, подтвердил своё участие и лично откроет наш Social Inclusion Business Forum 2026, который состоится 10 октября в Дрохеде!

Для нашей организации New Life Integration & Wellbeing Network CLG это большая честь и важное событие.
Мы стремимся создать пространство, где люди, приехавшие в Ирландию, смогут не только интегрироваться в общество, но и реализовать свои знания, профессиональный опыт и предпринимательские идеи.
И сегодня мы делаем ещё один шаг к этой цели!

Это значит, что к вопросу раскрытия потенциала мигрантов и помощи им в открытии своих проектов и бизнесов мы сможем привлечь больше государственных ресурсов, специалистов, финансирования.

Обязательно приезжайте на Форум, чтобы познакомиться с большим количеством людей, котопые тоже имеют свои идеи, проекты, новые видения. Объединяйтесь и идите к своим мечтам более уверенно, со своими единомышленниками.

Присоединяйтесь!

From Inclusion to Opportunity Saturday, 10 October 2026 | 10:00–17:30 The Mill Enterprise Hub, Drogheda Part of Louth Social Inclusion Wee

17/09/2026

THE FINAL SESSION — AND A NEW BEGINNING

Upcycling Art with Denim & Flowers
17 September | 11:00 AM–2:00 PM
Drogheda, Co.Louth

At our final session, you will enjoy two practical upcycling experiences led by our future facilitators, Inga Stonite and Daria Ivanishchenko.
Together, we will transform old denim and flowers into creative pieces — a beautiful reminder that what seems used, forgotten or fragile can always be given a new life.

This is not the end of our six-month journey. It is the moment when our learners begin to become facilitators themselves.

We are deeply grateful to Circular.ie and Creative Ireland for supporting this project and helping us turn creativity, learning and circular thinking into real opportunities for our community.

11/09/2026

Are you an entrepreneur from a migrant or refugee background building your business in Ireland?
We would love to hear your story!

As part of Louth Social Inclusion Week 2026, New Life Integration & Wellbeing Network CLG invites entrepreneurs to join The Social Inclusion Business Forum 2026 as speakers.

📅 Saturday, 10 October 2026
🕙 10:00 a.m.
📍 The Mill Enterprise Hub, Drogheda

Whether you run a small business or a growing company, your experience can inspire someone who is only beginning their journey in Ireland.

We invite you to share your story through 5 simple questions:
How did I start?
What was my biggest barrier?
Who or what helped me?
What mistake did I make, and what would I do differently today?
What would I recommend to someone starting a business in Ireland today?

This is an opportunity not only to inspire others and showcase your business, but also to meet other entrepreneurs, build new connections and discover new opportunities.

Your journey can become someone else’s first step.

📩 Interested in joining us as a speaker?
Contact us: [email protected]

11/09/2026

Friends, if you know any entrepreneurs—whether from large or small businesses—who have also come to Ireland as migrants or refugees, please tell them about the opportunity to speak at the Business Forum and share their experiences.

Sometimes, things that seem simple and obvious to us can provide the foundation for the new knowledge and experience someone else urgently needs right now.

08/09/2026

THE SOCIAL INCLUSION BUSINESS FORUM 2026
From Inclusion to Opportunity

Do you have skills, professional experience or a business idea, but are not sure how to move forward in Ireland?

Join us for The Social Inclusion Business Forum 2026, part of Louth Social Inclusion Week.

This practical event is designed for migrants, refugees and asylum seekers who want to explore entrepreneurship, social enterprise and new professional opportunities in Ireland.

You will:
meet organisations that support business and social enterprise;
learn where to go for advice, mentoring and other support;
hear real stories from migrant entrepreneurs who have already built businesses in Ireland;
meet new people and make useful connections;
identify your own next step.

📅 Saturday, 10 October 2026
🕙 10:00–17:30
📍 The Mill Enterprise Hub, Drogheda

Come with your questions.
Come with your experience.
Come with your idea — even if it is only an idea today.

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/the-social-inclusion-business-forum-2026-tickets-2000160828882?aff=oddtdtcreator

📩 [email protected]

From Inclusion to Opportunity Saturday, 10 October 2026 | 10:00–17:30 The Mill Enterprise Hub, Drogheda Part of Louth Social Inclusion Wee

07/09/2026

Online Information Session: The Future of Ukrainians in Ireland
New Life Integration & Wellbeing Network CLG, together with the Irish Refugee Council, is organising a special online information session for Ukrainians living in Ireland.

Our guest speaker

The session will be led by Oksana Strarzhynska, Ukrainian Helpline Supervisor at the Irish Refugee Council.

Oksana provides information, support and outreach to Ukrainians living in Ireland under Temporary Protection and other immigration pathways.

Since joining the Ukrainian Response Team in 2022, she has played a key role in the development and delivery of the Ukrainian Helpline, supporting thousands of people through phone consultations, emails, outreach sessions, webinars and information campaigns.

She has coordinated outreach activities across Ireland, including visits to accommodation centres, community events and youth settings. Oksana has also developed and delivered webinars on immigration, international protection, integration and access to services, working in partnership with organisations including UNHCR, MRCI, Dublin Volunteer Centre, Citizens Information and the Irish Red Cross.

Through the work of the Ukrainian Helpline, more than 9,500 callers have received support, approximately 8,000 emails have been answered, 175 outreach sessions have been conducted and 20 webinars have reached thousands of participants across Ireland.

What will we discuss?

The meeting will focus on the questions that are most important for Ukrainians in Ireland today, including Temporary Protection, immigration matters, available pathways, access to services and other issues affecting their future in Ireland.

There will also be an opportunity to ask questions about your individual situation and receive information directly from an experienced Ukrainian Helpline specialist.

Language

We want everyone attending the meeting to understand the information clearly.

The session will therefore be conducted in Ukrainian or Russian, depending on the participants attending and which language is best understood by everyone. Questions can also be asked in English, Ukrainian or Russian.

Our priority is simple: everyone should be able to understand, ask questions and receive clear information. Language is just a means of communication, it is outside of politics.

📅 Tuesday, 8 September 2026
🕖 19:00–20:30 (Ireland time)
💻 Online via Zoom

Participation is free. Registration via Eventbrite is required: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/online-information-session-the-future-of-ukrainians-in-ireland-tickets-1998912723766?aff=oddtdtcreator

01/09/2026

The final Family Camp of the season, "Theater, Cinema, and Hiking...," was a success!!!

There were about 50 of us—just the right amount of time to do everything we planned and fit into the tent during the brief rain showers.

We consider ourselves lucky with the weather. There was rain, but not much, but no wind and warm nights—it was fantastic!

We sang around the campfire until 5 a.m.; it was impossible to disperse the crowd.

It was so warm that some even went swimming. The camp, no matter how you look at it, was a summer camp....😉

We thank all the trainers and actors for the excellent workshops and campfire songs.

Thank you to everyone who prepared their numbers for the evening performance, "Piano in the Bushes." They were all talented, without exception.

We are very proud of you!

From now on, all our family events and festivals will be held indoors until May. And the first thing we plan to announce is the New Year's celebration. We'll tell you about it soon.