Mother Tongues’ IPIF Language Explorers
Nurturing Identity, Creativity and Belonging
At Mother Tongues, we believe in the power of language, creativity and connection. Through our Language Explorers programme, we create welcoming spaces where young children and their families can express themselves, celebrate their linguistic and cultural identities and feel truly seen and heard.
In 2024, funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) under the International Protection Integration Fund 2023 (IPIF), Mother Tongues continued its mission of fostering multilingualism, creativity and well-being among families with experience of forced migration. Building on the success of the previous year’s programme, we delivered twenty IPIF Language Explorers workshops across three Dublin locations in partnership with the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation. These sessions were more than just workshops, they were spaces of joy, healing and community-building.
This work is deeply aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, which promotes inclusive and equitable lifelong learning opportunities, and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, which aims to empower and promote social inclusion for all, regardless of background or status.
Creating Spaces for Connection and Belonging
It is like therapy. I feel at home here.
Between May and September 2024, our workshops welcomed 174 children and 128 parents/carers, including many International Protection Applicants (IPAs). Held in Portobello, Sandyford and Ongar, the workshops aimed to:
- Empower parents to feel confident in their cultural and linguistic identity.
- Increase migrant families’ participation in their local cultural life.
- Embed creativity and the arts into children’s daily routines, supporting well-being and emotional development.
For families navigating the challenges of displacement, integration into a new community can be an uphill journey. IPIF Language Explorers aimed to bridge that gap by bringing together International Protection Applicants (IPAs) and host communities in shared creative experiences. Families engaged in multilingual storytelling, creative arts and movement-based activities designed to foster resilience and connection.
For a change, it was amazing to have something fun to do as a family together. Normally, the kids have their activities by themselves, but as parents we never do anything together like this.
Creativity as a Pathway to Well-Being
The workshops followed a structured approach, starting with a warm welcome, trauma-healing movement exercises and interactive storytelling that incorporated the languages of the participants. Sessions concluded with an artistic activity, allowing parents and children to create together while celebrating their linguistic diversity.
When you are focused on art or a creative activity, you forget about all your worries and just focus on something that brings joy.”
The introduction of trauma healing practices, designed to relieve stress and promote well-being, further enriched the experience.
The set of gentle movements used in these sessions aimed to calm the nervous system and support emotional well-being.
Parents also appreciated learning relaxation techniques they could use at home with their children.
All the negative things were coming out of my body.
The Power of Language and Creativity
Language was at the heart of these workshops. Children and parents were encouraged to speak in their home languages, reinforcing pride in their cultural identity while fostering connections with others.
It helps my daughter see that growing up in a multilingual family is a good thing.”
“Hearing my child’s language outside our home makes me feel hopeful."
For many, the workshops provided a rare space to express themselves freely. Families living in state accommodation often experience isolation and the workshops helped break that barrier. A parent reflected, “At that time, life was boring, we were feeling lonely. The workshops made the family happier, we met other families, and we felt better.”
Artists also observed changes in confidence over time: “Some children were hesitant at first, but by the third or fourth session, they opened up and spoke their home language with pride.”
It felt so good to be around people from all different places, just talking, laughing and making together. It felt like we are all humans.
Challenges and the Road Ahead
While the programme was a great success, the evaluation highlighted key areas for growth:
- The need for continuity: Many parents emphasized the importance of having more regular workshops to maintain engagement and confidence.
- Venue considerations: Smaller, more intimate spaces encouraged deeper interaction, while larger venues sometimes made participation more difficult.
- Time and trust-building: IPA families often need multiple sessions to fully engage. Workshops must allow for gradual participation and relationship-building.
A Call for More
The resounding message from participants was clear: We need more workshops!
At Mother Tongues, we remain committed to expanding this work, ensuring that families seeking protection in Ireland have access to culturally enriching experiences that empower them to thrive. The success of IPIF Language Explorers 2024 reaffirms the transformative power of language and the arts in fostering belonging, healing and integration.
The overwhelmingly positive response from families highlights the urgent need for more multilingual, creative, and healing-based workshops that support integration and well-being. By aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), Mother Tongues continues to advocate for inclusive, high-quality learning experiences that strengthen social cohesion and cultural diversity. The success of IPIF Language Explorers reaffirms the transformative power of language and the arts in fostering belonging, healing and integration.
We are grateful to DCEDIY, our partners at Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, our trained Language Explorers artists Paola Invernizzi and Fernanda Ferrari, and, most importantly, the families who took part in IPIF Language Explorers.
For more information on the IPIF workshops, read the full report written by Dr Zoë O’Reilly.
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