Tá deireadh tagtha leis an gcéad clár EMPOWER Cumasú TÚS.
Is clár fiontraíochta saor in aisce é EMPOWER Cumasú i gcóir mná a bhfuil ina gcónaí i réigiúin na Gaeltachta i Maigh Eo, Gaillimh, Dún na nGall, Ciarraí, Corcaigh, an Mhí agus Port Láirge. Tá an maoiniú don chlár ag teacht ó Údarás na Gaeltachta agus tá an Mol Nuálaíocht san Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta an Atlantaigh (OTA) agus an Lárionad Rubicon ag Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta na Mumhan (OTM) á chur ar fáil.
Seoladh an clár go hoifigiúil sa Spidéal i mí Bealtaine 2024. Ag labhairt ag an seoladh níos luaithe i mbliana, dúirt Dara Calleary TD, an tAire Stáit um Chur Chun Cinn na Trádála, Cúrsaí Digiteacha agus Rialú Cuideachtaí, “Cuireann an clár seo deiseanna ar fáil do mhná i réigiúin iargúlta Gaeltachta le forbairt chórasach a dhéanamh ar na smaointe gnó atá acu agus tacaíocht a fháil ón OTA, OTM, Údarás na Gaeltachta agus an gréasán gteic chun críoch a chur lena gcuid pleananna.”
Tá an clár EMPOWER Cumasú cruthaithe chun mná a chur chun cinn i ngnó agus tacaíocht a thabhairt dóibh, agus tá sé tar éis suim ar leith a fháil, ag mealladh 110 iarratas thar seacht gcontaetha Gaeltachta in Éirinn. Thosaigh trí chlár i mí Meán Fómhair 2024 le 38 mbean fiontraí cláraithe. Ag díriú ar chumhacht a thabhairt do mhná chun a gcuid fiontracha a fhorbairt agus a fhás, tairgeann an togra cúnamh saincheaptha, meantóireacht, agus acmhainní chun cabhrú le rannpháirtigh a threorú maidir le conas déileáil lena ndúshláin fiontraíochta. Déanann an clár deiseanna breise a chruthú do mhná le go n-éireoidh leo i dtírdhreach coiomaíoch na fiontraíochta trí ghréasán bríomhar a chruthú, lán de cheannairí gnó baineannacha uaillmhianacha.
Tá dhá gné den chlár:
· EMPOWER TÚS (START)- Mná le smaoineamh gnó a bhfuil fós ag céim luath (níos lú ná 18 mhí) ag iarraidh tús a chur leis an ngnó agus an smaoineamh a bhfuil acu a thástáil.
· EMPOWER FÁS (GROWTH)- Mná le gnó seanbhunaithe (18 mhí +) ag iarradh méadú agus fás.
Bhí duaiseanna buaite amach ag beirt a bhí rannpháirteach ar an gcúrsa ag Blas na hÉireann Duaiseanna Bia 2024 sa Daingean an Deireadh Fómhair seo chaite. Bhuaigh Bácús Dhúiche Sheoigheach ó Ghaillimh, bonn óir le haghaidh a mBreac Tae, agus bhuaigh Kombucha na Dalaigh, ó Dhún na nGall bonn airgid dá Kombucha Bláth Troim & Spíonán- Bealtaine.
Ag deireadh an chláir EMPOWER TÚS i mí na Nollag, reáchtáladh comórtas cur i láthair ag campas OTA Maigh Eo agus san ionad Rubicon, Co. Corcaigh. Is é
buaicphointe spreagúil an chláir é an comórtas seo, áit a gcuireann na rannpháirtithe a smaointe gnó i láthair trí thionscnamh taighde margaíochta cuimsitheach. Leis an léargas luachmhar agus tuiscint dhomhain den deis margaíochta atá foghlamtha acu, tá deis ag na rannpháirtithe a gcoincheap gnó sofaisticiúil a chur i láthair os comhair painéal moltóirí- ag léiriú a nuálaíochta, straitéise, agus a gcumais i gcóir fás. Ba iad na buaiteoirí ar an lá ná Laura Ui Fhathaigh (https://www.daramats.com), Aelis Harris (https://coislaoiwillow.com), Barbara Ginty (https://youresomeflowerevents.ie) agus Margaret Mc Manamon (Cácaí Acla).
Deir Michelle Lee (Comhordaitheoir Cláir EMPOWER): Más bean thú i réigiún Gaeltachta, cláraigh do shuim inár gcéad clár eile ag tús 2025 inniu, agus tóg an chéad chéim le gnó a chruthú as do smaoineamh. Go minic déanann daoine athbhreithniú ar a ngairm agus céard atá ag teastáil uatha as an saol ag am Nollag. Is minic a thuigeann mná go dtugann féinfhostaíocht níos mó saoirse agus solúbthacht dóibh chun déileáil lena saol oibre agus saol pearsanta.
Tá an clár EMPOWER ag feidhmiú ó 2017, ag cabhrú le dul chun cinn go leor gnó iontacha sa réigiún. Féach ar www.empowerprogramme.ie le haghaidh roinnt cás-staidéar. Má tá smaoineamh agat, nó má tá tú ag iarraidh an smaoineamh a thástáil, nó má tá tú ag iarradh fás agus forbairt, is féidir teagmháil a dhéanamh liom ag michelle.lee@atu.ie le níos mó eolais a fháil faoinár gcúrsaí. Deir Maria Sweeney Khalifa (www.mskcoaching.com) “Thosaigh mé amach ar an gcúrsa seo i mí Meán Fómhair 2024, agus i ndiaidh 12 sheachtain, mothaím go bhfuil mé tar éis fás go mór mór le mo ghnó. Chabhraigh an meantóireacht liom soiléireacht a fháil, agus neartaigh na ceardlanna an tsoiléireacht seo trí na huirlisí le gníomhú a thabhairt dom. Ní féidir liom an cúrsa seo a mholadh a dhóthain.” Deir Dani Onishi (www.therewildlife.com); “Chuir an clár Cumasú ar an eolas mé faoi na céimeanna bunúsacha riachtanacha chun mo ghnó a leathnú amach. D’aimsigh mé muinín, eolas agus spreagadh ón mheantóireacht agus mé ag glacadh páirte sa chúrsa chun an chéad céim eile a thógáil i m’aistear fiontraíochta.
EMPOWER Cumasú is a free entrepreneurship programme for females living in the Gaeltacht areas of Mayo, Galway, Donegal, Kerry, Cork, Meath and Waterford. The programme is funded by Údarás na Gaeltachta and delivered by Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Innovation Hubs and the Rubicon Centre at Munster Technological University (MTU).
The programme was officially launched in An Spidéal in May 2024. Speaking at the launch earlier this year, Dara Calleary, TD, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation said, “This programme provides women in rural Gaeltacht areas with an opportunity to systematically develop their business ideas and to receive supports from the ATU, MTU, Údarás na Gaeltachta and the gteic network to finalise their plans.”
The EMPOWER Cumasú programme, is designed to promote and fast-track women in business, and has garnered significant interest, attracting 110 applications from across seven Gaeltacht counties in Ireland. Three programmes commenced in September 2024 with 38 female entrepreneurs enrolled. With a focus on empowering women to grow and scale their ventures, the initiative offers tailored support, mentorship, and resources to help participants navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship. By fostering a dynamic network of aspiring female business leaders, the programme aims to break down barriers and create more opportunities for women to succeed in the competitive entrepreneurial landscape.
There are two elements to the programme:
- EMPOWER TÚS (START) – women with an early-stage idea (less than 18 months) looking to test their business idea and start their business.
- EMPOWER FÁS (GROWTH) – Women with an established business (18 months +) looking to scale and grow.
Awards were also won by two of the participants on the programme at this year’s Blas na hÉireann Irish Food Awards 2024 in Dingle last October. Joyce Country Bakery, from Galway won gold for their teabrack and Kombucha na Dalaigh, from Donegal won silver for their Bealtaine – Elderflower & Gooseberry Kombucha.
At the end of the EMPOWER TÚS programme in December, a pitch competition took place at ATU Mayo campus and the Rubicon Centre, Cork. This competition marks an exciting culmination of the programmes, where the participants have to hone their business ideas through a comprehensive market research assignment. Armed with valuable insights and a deeper understanding of the market opportunity, the participants have an opportunity to present their refined business concepts to a panel of judges, showcasing their innovation, strategy, and potential for growth. The winners on the day were Laura Ui Fhathaigh (https://www.daramats.com/), Aelis Harris (https://coislaoiwillow.com/), Barbara Ginty (https://youresomeflowerevents.ie/) and Margaret Mc Manamon (Cácaí Acla).
Michelle Lee (EMPOWER Programme Coordinator) says: If you’re female in the Gaeltacht area, register your interest today for our next programme in early 2025, and take the first step towards transforming your idea into a business. Often Christmas is a time when people re-evaluate their careers and what they want to do going forward. Women often find the flexibility of self-employment allows them more freedom in balancing their work and personal lives.
The EMPOWER Programme has been up and running since 2017 transforming lots of wonderful businesses in the region. Check out www.empowerprogramme.ie to look at some of our case studies. Anyone who feels they have an idea, and would like to test it, or if you have a business you want to scale and grow can contact me at michelle.lee@atu.ie to find out more about our programmes. Marie Sweeney Khalifa (www.mskcoaching.com) says, “I began this course in September 2024 and in 12 weeks, I feel like I have grown so much in my business. The mentoring allowed me to gain such clarity, and the workshops consolidated this by providing the tools required to put things into action. I cannot recommend this course enough.” Dani Onishi (www.therewildlife.com) says, “The Cumasú Program introduced me to essential foundational steps to expand my business. Participating in the program and receiving the mentoring sessions provided gave me the confidence, information and inspiration I needed to take the next step in my entrepreneurial journey.”
