saol news page
December 2011
The annual SAOL Christmas Party and Karaoke took place on the 20th. Vocal battles took place among the mince pies, but the clear winners were Lyndsay and Paula (even though it looks like others are trying to steal your glory!):
November 2011
The 4th November saw the National launch of 'Reduce the Use 2' (RTU2) at the National Drug Conference of Ireland. More details of this event can be found on other pages of this site - here are some images of the launch:
The 10th of November saw the Local Launch of the RTU2 maual - with an emphasis on the training offered by SAOL. The launch was by Maureen O'Sullivan, T.D., on behalf of the Prevention and Education Sub-committee of the NICDTF and our Chairperson, Catriona Crowe. Our thanks to all who took part on a great morning.
October 2011
Celebrations for Halloween were great fun - a few of the 'less' embarrassing photographs are below!
October 2011
Saol got fully involved in the NECCOM community gardens - as the following proves!
September 2011
A date for the SAOL calender - 30th September 2011 - the day when the founding Director of SAOL went on to pastures new. Our gratefulness for all that you have achieved in and for SAOL in immeasurable. You are one in a billion and we will miss you very much. We trust that you will do great things in your new role with CityWide - if you don't, we're coming back to get you!
September 2011
Congratulations to both Shirley Brennan and Martine Dawnay on their graduation from SAOL. We wish you well as you go on to bigger and better things - but hope that you don't forget us and keep in touch!
August 2011
Congratulations to Sandra on her graduation from the SAOL Programme last Friday. We wish you and your new black and white friend every best wish on your continued journey together. And just remember - all crises can be overcome if you keep the bathwater running and the sardines in the fridge!
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July 2011
Saol followed up the visit to the Gaiety by peforming Blood Brothers Sisters themselves. As part of the portfolio of material for FETAC Level 3 Drama, the CE particpants performed three scenes from the show - dramatic monologues, world class singing and dynamic dancing were on show: Autumn tour TBC! Special thanks to Mary McDermott for coming to see the performance and the Conal Kearney, Director of Proceedings:
12th July 2011: Taking a Bow - but with an eye on the camera
June 2011
SAOL were at the Gaiety Theatre today to view the competition! We are currently completing a FETAC Drama course with Conal Kearney, which includes working on a drama piece - Blood Brothers being our chosen play. We casually hung around the Stage Door after the performance hoping to meet some of the cast - thanks to Conal for arranging the introductions:
June 2011
SAOL took part of the Flora Min-Maraton on Bank Holiday Monday, 7th June. Fourteen of us took to the roads with 40,000 other women - and a few men! A great day with a wonderful feeling of achievement at the end - congratulations to all who took part.
April 2011
The late Easter this year brought with it a fun family day filled with bright sunshine and more Easter Eggs than the easter bunny herself could carry: face-painting, egg-bowling, Easter-bonnet making and egg hunts galore kept everyone busy; while Yvonne's chocolate fountain brought smiles to lots of faces!
March 2011
The Project went on an overnight team-building exercise to the Deerpark Hotel and took the opportunity to glamorise and accessorise - as the photographs below atest - we did work as well, honestly!
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We also did a lot of work (though you wouldn't think it from the photos above!), so we'd better include some proof here:
March 2011
The 8th March was International Women's Day and also a great day of celebration for the SAOL Project. More than 40 FETAC Certificates were presented to the group for subjects ranging from Communty Development to Computer Studies and Music appreciation. More certificates were given to the group for their completion of both First Aid and their Xcel Course. Most impressively of all, each recipient stood up in front of the large group and spoke about what it is to be a woman in 2011. The photographs below give some sense of what a brilliant day it was.
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February 2011
We had a great morning with a visit from RDRD. A group of the women from RDRD came over to chat with us here, to share their experiences of being a woman in addiction treatment. SAOL is keeping a record of such thoughts to assist in a future publication. If there is any Project who would like to come and visit or would like to be visited by us, please get in touch. Apologies for the poor quality of the photograph - the sun was beaming in the window and bleached out half of the group.
February 2011
SAOL has invited all the people looking for our votes to come in and talk to us. Granted that they are on the final week of their campaigns - but still, some of them have managed to make it. Many thanks to Christy Burke, Malachy Steenson and Mary Lou MacDonald for coming in so far. Liam Johnson of Fis Nua spent the morning with us on Wednesday; Maureen O'Sullivan came in on Thursday and gave us a necessary and insightful tutorial on proportional representation!
Our thanks to all who took the time to visit; the importance of this election for all citizens was under-scored by the visits. Our door is open to all candidates and elected representatives throughout the year. Funding will allow us to make you a cup of tea - if little else!
February 2011
In keeping with SAOL's ethos and commitment to this community, we whole-heartedly support the Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign. Today we joined with Citywide at the launch of the campaign to puts the drugs issues on the political agenda. Free from party political support, this campaign reminds us that drugs are devastating the lives of individuals and families as well as negatively impacting on the communities within which they are being used. It is time that, regardless of whatever combination of parties makes up the new Government, drugs are understood to be an urgent and pressing issue and that, left to fester, will cause as much harm to our country as any bank.
December 2010
December saw the quiet launch of the saol.project store on Ebay. Good luck to the Aftercare group who are heading up this initiative and if you fancy taking a look at what's for saol sale, look us up. All profits go to pay for activities for the Aftercare group.
December 2010
During December 'SAOL's Got Talent 2010' reached its conclusion with Jolene (singing 'That's what friends are for') becoming the first winner - as voted by all the competitors! Best entertainer was provided by Mary ('Simply the Best') - and on receiving their trophies, both women confirmed that there was interest from a number of record companies but that SAOL was where they would remain!
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December 2010
Christmas came to SAOL - most importantly to the Children's Centre - but also to the main Project in the form of our Christmas lunch. Santa did some pre-Christmas research by playing with some of the toys with the children; while upstairs, the rest of SAOL celebrated the hope of Christmas and gratitude for a making it through a challenging but generally positive year!
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December 2010
SNOW! EVERYWHERE! Even in our back garden - so here is a picture, courtesy of the children's Project, of Frostella, SAOL's newest participant:
November 2010
In a simple ceremony, SAOL participants remembered all of those who are dear to them but have died. Each person tied a ribbon to the tree to represent partners, children, parents, brothers and sisters, friends and other relations belonging to them, who have died and are still lovingly remembered. May they all rest in peace.
October 2010
On Friday 28th October we has our first Family Halloween Day - although going by the photos below, I think we scared all the families away!! Some brilliant face-painting, pumpkin carving and 'pin-the-organ on the skeleton' made this is a day to be remembered!
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