b'When I first came toIreland, my worldwas so small. I wasafraid to go to shopsand I couldnt tell thedoctor what waswrong. Today, I canspeak confidently in English, my childrendo well in school and my daughterspeaks with an Irish accent. Rima, from LithuaniaLithuania ChinaRomaniaMaryNallystoodinthegrocerystoreaisleand Theofferoffree,friendly,conversation-basedwatchedastheyoungmotherfromArgentina classes struck an immediate chord in the commu-struggled to read the back of a can. She had two nity and soon the number of students and tutorssmall children with her, and was clearly frustrated grew.WhileEnglishclassesareoftentaughtinat not being able to understand the label. My heart urban centers of Ireland, it was apparent that therewent out to her as I realized how isolating it must weremanynon-Englishspeakerslivinginruralhave been to not be able to read English.areaswhowishedtolearnEnglishaswell.ThisThatexperiencesixyearsagointhesmallfact, paired with senior citizens with the time andvillageofSummerhill,Co.Meathwasthedesiretoteach,createdaperfectopportunitytobeginningofanationwidemovementtoteach address a previously unmet need.English language skills to those who have come to Notsurprisingly,theeffectwaspositivenotIreland from other countries. Mary Nally was CEO only for those who were learning, but for those whoofThirdAge,anationalorganizationthatworks were teaching. We find that the communities havewith older and retired people to remain engaged becomestronger,explainedLiamCarey,Head with their lives and their communities. She asked of National Development for Filte Isteach. Thewhat role Third Age might take in helping people students begin to meet their neighbors. And ourwho wanted to learn. tutorslearnaboutaworldbeyondIrelandwhileI came back to Third Age and shared the story offering a valuable skill to the community. with the volunteers here, said Mary. So we began Liam addressed the question of whether theteaching conversational English. We put the word current economic struggles in Ireland have madeout in the community and on the first night we had immigrants feel more, or less, welcomed by localtwelvetutorsandsixstudentsfromEastern communities.WhatmessagedoesFilteIsteachEurope.Then,bywordofmouth,itspread.It impart to those who may be unsure of these newbecame so clear that there was a real need to make arrivals? At an economic level, it does not benefitpeople feel welcome because Ireland has changed, a community if part of that community cant par-especially within the last ten years. There are new ticipate,explainedLiam.Wewantpeopletocommunities of people who want to contribute. come and be able to contribute to society, not beconnect2012 | 33'