Diageo Ireland has announced a further €1.3m support for the Digital Hub’s Liberties Learning Initiative bringing Diageo Ireland’s total investment in the project to €2.6m. The funding, which has supported almost 2,000 people in the local area, is the biggest single corporate citizenship commitment by Diageo in Ireland.
The Liberties Learning Initiative was established by The Digital Hub in 2002. It gives people living in the Liberties/Coombe area an opportunity to become familiar with digital media. As well as providing innovative digital education initiatives to local schools and the wider community, the initiative reflects the national priorities of building a knowledge-based society and addressing the digital divide. Diageo Ireland has supported the initiative since its inception.
In order to achieve this, a range of cutting-edge programmes in digital media education is being delivered. Recent initiatives include teaching school children how to make their own music videos, providing broadband access to local schools and educating teachers on how to use technology to interest children in topics such as science, maths and engineering, as well as hosting digital media exhibitions.
Welcoming the funding from Diageo Ireland, Philip Flynn, chief executive officer, The Digital Hub Development Agency, said: “Diageo Ireland’s renewal of its commitment to the Liberties Learning Initiative is a major boost not only to the programme but also to the local area. This funding will ensure that we can continue to work closely with local schools, colleges and the wider community to help bridge the digital divide, while also enabling us to bring more partners on board to further strengthen the programme.”
To mark the renewal of Diageo Ireland’s sponsorship, The Digital Hub Development Agency and Diageo Ireland are hosting an exhibition entitled The Digital Liberties’, which will showcase the work of the schools and wider community of the Liberties/Coombe through the initiative. The exhibition will be held tomorrow and Friday in The Digital Hub, 10-13 Thomas St, Dublin 8.
By Brian Skelly
