Our Origins: A Movement for Change
6 March 2025
Mná Le Chéile was born from a shared vision to create gender-responsive spaces where women’s voices lead the conversation on the services and experiences that can impact their lives.
September 2023: The First Gathering
Our journey began when Tinteán Housing Association, the Southeast Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force (SERDATF), and Better Together came together to organize a unique gathering focused on women’s experiences of homelessness, substance use, and mental health.
We wanted this space to be led by both lived and learned experience, so we invited service providers, frontline workers, and women with direct experience of these challenges. Using Open Space methodology, participants identified the key issues leading to unmet needs for women. As stories were shared, a common truth emerged: women’s struggles are deeply connected, and real change requires collective action.
This day was simply the beginning of coming together to create a unique symposium for International Women’s Day 2024.
March 2024: The Mná Le Chéile Change Event
On March 7th & 8th, 2024, we hosted the Mná Le Chéile Change Event, bringing together services including Southeast Regional Drug & Alcohol Task Force, the Cornmarket Project, SETU, Depaul Waterford, and Better Together. Over two days, we focused on:
- The unequal access women have to services
- The experiences of women and mothers in services
- The impact of outdated systems on women
- The strength, resilience, and skills of women
We worked together to envision a future where gender-sensitive services are the norm. What emerged was not just a conversation, but the beginning of a change movement—a coalition of community, voluntary, and statutory organizations committed to making this vision a reality.
Key Takeaways from the Change Event:
- Peer experts with lived experience must be at the forefront of this movement.
- We must amplify women’s voices—not just to be heard, but to be listened to.
- Gender-sensitive services must be accessible and inclusive for all.
On Day 2, we transformed our ideas into action, mapping out the steps needed to build gender-responsive services. The event closed with an unforgettable performance from the High Hopes Choir, bringing energy and unity to the movement.
What Came Next?
From these events, we committed to:
✅ Creating a manifesto and strategy for women and girls, including all marginalized communities
✅ Developing a dedicated website for Mná Le Chéile
✅ Driving a coalition for long-term policy change
