Social Entrepreneurs Ireland – I made the Finals
Social Entrepreneurs Ireland are a charitable organisation that aims to encourage and support the development of a new generation of social entrepreneurs. They directly support the early stage development of these social entrepreneurs by providing a range of supports that include financial investment, technical training, peer networking, mentoring and links to other social entrepreneur networks.
They also work actively with the business, third level, public and voluntary sectors to support the development of a new social entrepreneurship movement in Ireland.
They have developed a support model that helps these social entrepreneurs grow their ideas from concept to reality. The prize fund, supported by DCC plc, has increased by over a third this year in response to the increasing strength of social entrepreneurship in Ireland and the growing need for the services social entrepreneurs provide. DCC are the flagship sponsor for the Awards selection process and provide critical funding and support to Social Entrepreneurs Ireland alongside other funders and supporters.
Now, eight finalists have been chosen from over 200 applicants and will compete for a Social Entrepreneurs Ireland award, which will be presented to three winners next October to help them grow and increase the impact that they are having around the country. The finalists will now embark on a three month ‘finalists programme’, where they will receive funding and support to assess and develop their ideas prior to final selection of the 2011 winners in October.
The finalists include:
Sheila Gallagher of Galway’s ‘Green Sod Land Trust’,
Joan Freeman Pieta House,
Steven Daly of Camara Ireland,
Niamh Gallagher and Michelle O’Donnell-Keating of ‘Women for Election’
Lisa Domican of Grace App Communication, (that’s me)
Michael Kelly from GIY Ireland,
Krystian Fikert of MyMind, and Sean Love of Fighting Words.
(Click on each to learn more about the project they have a passion for)
Announcing the finalists, CEO Sean Coughlan said, “It is a testament to the growth of social entrepreneurship in Ireland that we have seen such high standards of applicants to the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Awards year on year. The strength of social entrepreneurship is so strong that we feel it merits strong support, and we are delighted, with the help of DCC plc and our other partners, to be able to increase funding of our finalists and eventual winners.” Fostering the development of solutions to Ireland’s most pressing social problems, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland celebrates social entrepreneurs from all walks of life. Social Entrepreneurs Ireland was the first and remains one of very few sources of support for social entrepreneurs.
For more information visit www.socialentrepreneurs.ie
well done lisa thats fantastic
Well done Lisa, best of luck.
Mossy Mu
The strength of social entrepreneurship is so strong that we feel it merits strong support, and we are delighted, with the help of DCC plc.