| According to a September 1998 UN Report on Human Development, women in Ireland are worse off economically and less likely to be in positions of power in business and politics than in any other industrialized nation.
Established in 1988 from a bequest by Irishman Michael J. Freeman, through educational scholarships and vocational training, the Michael J. Freeman Scholarships for Irish Women program is expanding the role of women in Ireland. The program has two components: scholarships administered by Dublin City University, Limerick University and Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, and ZEST, or Zonta Empowering Self-Development and Transformation administered by the National Women's Council of Ireland.
Scholarships are exclusively for Irish women pursuing studies in Ireland. Since inception, full tuition Scholarships have been awarded to 55 women. Of these women, 41 have graduated from their respective institution, and 14 are current students.
With the Irish government's decision to offer full financial support for higher education tuition to women as well as men, the Freeman program expanded to offer support to women who may not qualify under traditional support schemes. Zonta Empowering Self-Development and Transformation (ZEST) was launched in 2000 with a grant to the National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI). NWCI oversees the identification, development, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of all activities.
ZEST:
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focuses on creating education and training opportunities for women who, because of economic, social and cultural circumstances or other barriers, are prevented from reaching their full potential, and |
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facilitates a broad range of educational opportunities for women from diverse backgrounds who have in common the motivation to succeed in their chosen field of study. |
To date, the Zonta International Foundation has provided four grants to the NWCI totaling US$550,000. In 2002, ZEST funds were granted to six projects:
Clare Haven Services expanded their Insights and Insights Plus Programmes. Insights is an innovative educational group programme designed to address the problems of abuse of women by known men. It offers education, support and practice in developing skills and techniques for positive change.
Mary Immaculate College provided research skills training for a group of four Traveller women.
Parents Alone Resource Centre provides young single mothers with targeted training in a supportive learning environment to encourage them to overcome discrimination and social isolation, so they can extend their life choices and become socially and economically independent.
Rownanstown, Rowlagh, Bawnogue and Deansrath Women’s Groups joined forces to provide women from areas of high disadvantage access to third level education as a means of combating their marginalization.
Southill Domestic Abuse Project supported an identified group of local women, the majority of whom were survivors of abuse, to develop skills that facilitated increased awareness and support of other women experiencing abuse in the community.
SPIRASI provided Refugee/Asylum-seeking women who have the right to work opportunities to learn both personal development and practical skills, enabling them to combat educational and racial disadvantage within the workforce.
The Michael J. Freeman Scholarships for Irish Women Fund has provided US$864,000 in educational assistance and vocational training for 250
women in Ireland since 1988.
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