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Building Literacy Bridges for Arabic communities in Louth and Meath

Addressing unmet literacy needs among Arabic speakers in Louth.

Arabic speakers practising English.

“The course is very good, and I will tell all my friends about it. I thank the teachers and the management for their support and effort to help us to learn the language.”- Learner

This project aimed to build literacy bridges for Arabic communities in Louth. We created an inclusive space where Arabic speakers could engage in English language classes which would help them to fully engage in society.  

The project had 38 learners in Dundalk and Drogheda over 15 weeks between September and December 2024.  

Culturally inclusive lessons covered real-life scenarios relevant to participants’ daily lives. This helped them feel more valued and motivated to continue learning.  

Lessons were a mix of storytelling, images/videos, arts and crafts, and other interactive activities that aligned with Arabic cultural learning styles. 

Classes included familiar Arabic cultural references. This made learners feel less intimidated, reduced anxiety, and encouraged participation. 

This project addressed literacy barriers with Arabic speakers and allowed learners to take the first step towards informal education.  

Learners say that lessons helped their well-being and improved their confidence. They felt ready to begin new learning opportunities.  

Arabic speakers practising their English skills.

This project was a collaboration between Culture Connect and the Somali Irish Community Development Association.

For more information about the project, please contact Niamh McShane, Regional Literacy Coordinator in Louth and Meath ETB, at nmcshane@lmetb.ie  

The Adult Literacy for Life Collaboration and Innovation Fund

The Collaboration and Innovation Fund supports projects for adults with unmet literacy, numeracy and digital literacy needs and projects that support organisations to be literacy friendly. The closing date for 2024 applications has now passed but keep an eye out for information on our 2025 fund which will be launched in December.