The Ireland Funds - Your Money at Work : An Cosan

An Cosán Vision

• A community of people free from sexism, classism and any other kind of social inequality

• A community committed to a revolutionary form of education that teaches all of us how to re-order our society and economy so that we can shape our ways of being human together

• A community guided and sustained by the transcendent presence of sacredness in our lives

• A community committed to the belief that good childcare and pre-school education is a right for all children

• A community with a table that is open to all - for food, drink, compassion, merriment, visioning, storytelling and decision making.

An Cosán is a development of The Shanty Educational Project Ltd.

The Shanty Education Project Ltd. a registered charity, was established in 1986 to provide “second chance” community-based education to the residents of Tallaght West. It was founded by Dr Ann Louise Gilligan and Dr Katherine Zappone who began running courses in their own home in Brittas, Co. Dublin. Gradually, with the help and generosity of people living within and outside Tallaght, the project developed to offer up to 10 courses with childcare for participants. In the process, the organisation won a number of awards for its community initiatives.

In September 1999, the organisation re-located to a brand new multi-purpose community facility – An Cosán - in Jobstown Tallaght West. An Cosán is so called because it offers local people a path to learning and leadership. The organisation provides a service to an area of Dublin that is severely disadvantaged as a result of poverty and high levels of unemployment. An Cosán provides community-based education, childcare and enterprise.

The importance of its work was recognised through a major capital grant from the government and by the presence of the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste at the official opening.

An Cosan -a center of learning, leadership and enterprise

There are 3 operations within An Cosán

The Shanty Education and Training Centre offers over 20 year long educational programmes. Today the programme of courses provided is designed to meet the needs of people living in these four communities of Tallaght West. The greatest obstacle to individuals accessing education and training is their experience of powerlessness and low self-esteem.

The Shanty Educational Project has always had a commitment to the development of enterprise and from ’96-’01 ran a successful quality craft community business Weaving Dreams. In the light of the ethos an vision of this organisation we’re currently working to establish a new business.

Rainbow House is a beautiful purpose built space providing early childhood education and care for children from the Tallaght West community. We have a holistic approach and provide a safe secure and loving environment with a home from home atmosphere where confidence, independence and self esteem are nurtured encouraging each child to develop to their full potential at their own pace.

Rainbow House currently provides

Sessional care for 100 children per week
An Educational Pre-School service for children from Mon-Fri from 9.30 – 1.00
An After-School Service for children from 4 – 12 years

Since 1998 The Ireland Funds have given more than $80,000 to An Cosan- the majority of which came from Grant Rounds and Conference Grants.

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An Cosan, (meaning “path” in Irish) was formed to benefit the people of West Tallaght in Dublin. The philosophy of An Cosan is that education is the key to eradicating poverty.

Since 1998, The American Ireland Fund has supported An Cosan’s programs that promote literacy and personal development within the community, as well an accredited course in child care.