b'WALKsubmittedtheirapplicationtoTheIrelandFunds outreach gardening services to older members of the com-annual Grant Roundmade possible by The Ireland Funds munity who may not be able to maintain their own homePromisingIreland Campaign.Over900applicationswere gardens. During 2012, WALK was recognised at the Dublinreceived and WALK was one of the organizations that stood City Council Annual Community Awards Programme as aoutfortheirinnovativeapproachofusinggardeningto leaderinprovidingcommunitybasedinitiatives.Theempower people with intellectual disabilities and mental organisation has won a number of awards for its communityhealth issues.gardeningprojectovertheyearsandtheseawardshelpWhen we got the call to say wed been approved, it was place a tangible value on the work carried out by all thosevery exciting, says Joe. The Ireland Funds have now given involved. usfundingforequipmentontwooccasions.Shovels,spades, lawnmowers, a greenhouse.and you can see the POTATOES, ONIONS, ANDPRIDEfruits of this labor all around you.Thecommunitygardenwevisitedisanimpressive Toseesomethingfrombeginningtoendisimportant. space on the grounds of Scoil Colm, a local primary school. AndforpeoplewithintellectualdisabilitiestohavetheThe school children also participate in the upkeep of the pride of bringing something from seed to table is extremelygardenwhichnotonlyteachesthemgardeningskillsimportant. We see people have improved health and well-alongsidetheserviceusers,butimpartslessonsofbeing from working on a project like this, says Joe. Thatacceptance of people with intellectual disabilities. School sense of self-worth and achievement is powerful. children and service users work side by side in a supervised We love having the chance to show supporters that itspace learning how to make compost, grow vegetables from doesnt take a large amount of money to be engaged withseeds, and the importance and pride of responsibility. The ones community. If we contribute in a meaningful way tovegetables and fruits harvested from the garden go to local where we live, we give to the entire country. The ingenuitycommunity.shown by the nonprofit sector in Ireland is second to none.The gardening services extend beyond their own commu- Itsbringingasenseofvitalityandcommunitybackto nity garden. Service users have won awards for their plant Ireland that was perhaps lost before.flower display stands, window boxes and hanging basketslocatedinlocalvillagesinDublin.WALKalsoprovides connect 2013 | 19'