Amazon Web Services (AWS) today announced the launch of a new AWS InCommunities Fund to help local community groups, schools, and organisations in Fingal, Ireland.
Kick-starting new projects or expanding existing ones for the benefit of the community, the new €150,000 fund will be managed and administered by non-profit organisation ChangeX, and is expected to support up to 30 community projects in the Fingal area.
Applicants can apply for funding up to €10,000 to launch a new idea or to expand an existing local project that supports an area of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics education (STEAM), sustainability, or health and wellbeing.
Applicants can also apply for funding to introduce one of 12 established community programmes with proven positive social or environmental impact in other global communities into Fingal. These include: Better Block Parklet, which helps communities turn parking spots into spaces for play or business expansion; Pocket Forests, which are small areas of densely planted native trees, shrubs and wildflowers in a school or community setting; and STEAM-ed, which supports a school’s STEAM capacity with a fun and engaging ready-to-teach STEAM-in-a-Box learning programme.
Speaking at the launch of the AWS InCommunities Fund at Luttrellstown Community College, An Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said: “It’s excellent news that Amazon Web Services has launched a new AWS InCommunities Fund of €150,000 for Fingal. This will fund community groups, schools and organisations and help to build some exciting new projects in science, art, health and education. I understand that the AWS InCommunities Fund will help up to 30 projects across the county. I was delighted to meet with teachers and students at Luttrellstown Community College recently to learn about some of the environmental and educational initiatives they have been able to set up already thanks to AWS InCommunities funding.”
The AWS InCommunities Fund is open to people living in the Fingal County area with applications accepted until November 11th. Funding will be subject to a review process, where applications will be assessed and scored against funding criteria and the potential impact in the community. All successful applicants will complete a 30-day challenge to kick-start their idea and take their first steps towards making their project a reality.
AWS is already working with local community groups and schools in Fingal, including Luttrellstown Community College, a school with over 950 students located in Clonsilla. Since 2019 AWS has worked with Luttrellstown Community College on environmental and educational initiatives, for example, the installation of a polytunnel to support students’ environmental education. AWS volunteers have also mentored students and provided them with the skills needed to successfully deliver projects that they have a passion for, and that will have a positive impact on their wider community. In addition, AWS and Luttrellstown Community College developed the annual Comhrá Cliste (Class Chats) competition, where students design, plan, project manage and deliver projects that will support their school or community.
Siobhán Moran, Principal of Luttrellstown Community College said: “We are very grateful for the support AWS has provided over the last number of years, from inviting our students to attend AWS Girls’ Tech Day, to supporting our annual Comhrá Cliste competition, which inspires students to be innovative and entrepreneurial. We’re excited to see AWS launch this fund and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on our local community.”
Mike Beary, Country Manager, AWS Ireland said: “AWS has been investing in Ireland for over 15 years, and the launch of this new AWS InCommunities Fund for the Fingal area highlights our continued commitment to both the local community and the country. We remain focused on being a responsible and trusted part of the Fingal community, and we want to continue making a positive difference in the communities in which we operate, particularly in areas of health, wellbeing, education and the environment. We’re proud to play a small part in helping to support the Fingal area, and we encourage anyone interested to apply to the AWS InCommunities Fund today and help make a lasting difference.”
Thousands of local teams across Ireland have successfully started community projects through ChangeX, accessing the ideas, support and funding needed to make an impact in their local area.
ChangeX is a non-profit organisation headquartered in Dublin with a community engagement platform designed to get funding and resources directly into citizens’ hands to lead impactful projects in their neighbourhoods. The ChangeX team works with social innovators across the world to find and open-source proven solutions to environmental, economic, and social issues, partnering with companies and foundations to support communities with the necessary funding.
