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Empowering families: practical skills and community connection for women at Montague International Protection Centre 

Empowering migrant women through family-based learning

A diverse group of people holds certificates and signs, smiling in a room with colorful walls and banners for an integration event.

The project partners were

  • Laois County Council, Local  Authority Integration Team  (LAIT)

  • Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB)  

About this project

This project empowered women living in the Montague International Protection  Accommodation Centre through creative,  accessible,  and family-focused learning.

The course reduced barriers to participation, strengthened social connections  and improved literacy skills in a safe environment.   

More about this project

Learners attended a 12-week programme at the Montague Hotel IPAS Centre  from  September to early December 2025.

Weekly two-hour sessions included

  • journaling, 

  • cooking, 

  • sewing, and

  • field trips to a local  arts centre  and heritage sites.

A trauma-informed and creative  approach to learning engaged women who may not otherwise take part  in mainstream learning.  

The course ended with  a  graduation event where participants displayed their journals, sewing work,  and collaborative quilt.  

"The outcomes went far beyond skills development — participants built friendships, developed a strong sense of belonging and reported positive changes in everyday family life. These connections and confidence gains are the foundation for long-term integration and learning.” — Aga  Wypychowska, integration support worker in Laois county council