€200k in funding for local projects from Meta... 13 projects to benefit from Data Centre community grants

Meta announced funding of over €200,000 for 13 local projects under its 2023 Data Centre Community Action Grants scheme, at a ceremony at its Clonee Data Centre last Wednesday.

Now in its fifth year, the Data Centre Community Action Grants aims to support the community by putting the power of technology to use for community benefit, connecting people online or off, and improving STEM education.

Cllr Nick Killian, Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council, who attended the ceremony said the recipients has been inspirational with so many ambitious projects and worthwhile initiatives with community connectivity, inclusivity, and STEM learning at its core.

"I’d like to congratulate this year's grantees. It’s wonderful to see another 13 schools and charitable organisations recognised and funded for their great work. We are proud to have Meta in Meath, and I look forward to working with them for many years to come."

This year’s grantees include Scoil Mhuire Naofa Rathfeigh for an interactive multi-sensory room for all children in Rathfeigh school but in particular for children with special needs in the wider Rathfeigh Skryne community; St Paul’s School, Navan who will cross physical boundaries by using VR technology to experience world-famous landmarks, and who also plan to create 360 VR of local landmarks from their town; Third Age Foundation who will use their grant to combine technology, befriending and a menu of practical supports to improve the health and wellbeing of older people in Co Meath and Meath Women’s Refuge and Support Services to provide a web chat function, online programmes, multi-language supports and increased digital capacity to women who are experiencing domestic violence in Meath.

Other recipients include: Ashbourne Community School to support developing a community digital hub at the school; Rathregan National School to support helping students become passionate about STEM education through interaction with LEGO kits and IT projects that will introduce them to coding and engineering in a fun and challenging way; St Joseph’s Mercy Secondary School to create a student-centred STEM Studio aimed at empowering students to embark on future careers in STEM and addressing gender inequality in STEM; St Andrew’s NS, Curraha To support creating a STEM HUB to help connect the rural community to a wealth of new, global experiences; Trim Educate Together National School to support using Minecraft: Education Edition to foster 21st century learning, including critical thinking, collaboration, problem solving and creativity, in a fun and exciting way; St Joseph’s NS Mulhussey to develop ‘STEM and Play’ in the junior classes at the school by ensuring students have access to high- quality, meaningful and enjoyable STEM learning experiences while also developing students’ self-esteem.

Also receiving awards are: Scoil Eoin Báiste, Nobber, to support helping students create and explore a whole new world through coding and digital skills, with the students then using these skills to teach older members of the community; Lismullen National School to support purchasing interactive whiteboards and devices for students to leverage digital portfolios, as well as to present maths in a fun and engaging way and enhancing communication skills for children with additional needs; Drogheda Educate Together Secondary School to support enhancing coding expertise and practical applications of code in action by providing students with robotics and hardware.

To date, Meta has provided over €915,000 in direct giving to 70 Meath projects through the programme.