Beginnings

Fáilte Isteach began in autumn 2006 in Summerhill, Co Meath when it was noticed that an increasing number of new migrants in the locality were experiencing difficulties in their social and working lives due to limited or nonexistent English. Our research indicated that free, local, accessible classes for new migrants were few and far between.

This situation in Summerhill was brought to the attention of Third Age members and 14 people volunteered their service as tutors. Local research was undertaken to quantify the local numbers of new migrants and their language proficiency, and the classes were publicised.

Failte Isteach began in the Third Age in October 2006. Six students from Eastern Europe attended, and over the next weeks and months the project consolidated. Within a year approximately seventy people had progressed from no English to basic, intermediate and in some cases advanced level English. To date over 350 students from 29 different countries have attended the classes at Summerhill.