Gaoth Dobhair organisation receives €5,000 from Coca-Cola Thank You Fund

Ionad Óige Ghaoth Dobhair is to receive €5,000 from the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund. The organisation is among fifteen non-profit organisations committed to receive funding nationally. Responding to the high level of demand for support among community groups and the quality of applications received, Coca-Cola increased this year’s Thank You Fund to €110,000, enabling the delivery of targeted support to even more local groups with ideas to help young people take an active role in shaping, creating and maintaining sustainable communities. 

Ionad Óige Ghaoth Dobhair aim to create more employment opportunities in the Gaeltacht area for young native Irish speakers. The organisation will invest in diversifying the skills and qualifications of their young adult population to secure employment. Through courses in radio and broadcasting, hospitality, ocean literacy, and garda partnerships, young adults can explore career options that not only facilitate but encourage the use of the Irish language.  

Now, in its twelfth year, over 200 non-profit organisations across the island of Ireland applied for the fund under the categories of education and training, diversity, and inclusion in young people and projects focused on encouraging young people aged 16–25-year-olds to care for the environment. 

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Commenting on the standard of applications and the supports that will be delivered to local communities through this year’s Coca-Cola Thank You Fund, Agnese Filippi, Country Manager, Coca-Cola Ireland said: “Year on year we come away from the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund inspired by the courage and creativity of local leaders right across the island of Ireland, who are supporting and encouraging our young people to create a better future, for the benefit of us all.

“As a business we are committed to investing in the development of sustainable communities, where economic and environmental stability as well as social equity is at the heart, with this year’s fund targeted at non-profit organisations empowering those young people with the skills they need to become change champions.”

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She added that community action plays a vital role in effecting sustainable change and encouraged all those community leaders, charity groups and local sporting organisations who applied to this year’s Coca-Cola Thank You Fund to continue with their great work.” 

Joining the Coca-Cola Thank You Fund judging panel once again this year Lucy Masterson, Chief Executive of the Irish Youth Foundation said: “The standard of this year’s applications and the quality of the presentations from the shortlisted organisations was just astounding. Seldom if ever does one size fit all, so the work these organisations do is invaluable to the lives of all our young people, but especially those who need added support to achieve their goals.”