At Social Entrepreneurs Ireland we believe that new and innovative solutions exist to the myriad social and environmental challenges we face today. We believe that these solutions will be most effective when driven by ‘unreasonable people’; individuals who are not prepared to accept the status quo and who adopt a highly entrepreneurial approach to igniting social change.
Our aim is to identify, invest in, and support these social entrepreneurs and the organisations they launch.
Throughout the world, regardless of geography, the lack of women in political leadership positions is a common theme. In Ireland, the percentage of women elected into Dáil Eireann in 2007 was just 13% and the percentage of women elected into local councils in 2009 stands at around 17%. Ireland ranks only 23rd out of the 27 EU countries for the percentage of women in parliament.
The difficulties that women still face in politics are real, with few women role models and limited mentoring opportunities or support. The Women in Leadership Network will prepare women to run in future elections to boost the number of women in public office. With the right mentoring and training, Benedicta aims to provide women with the supports and skills required to succeed and stay in the male dominated world of politics.
“There is no true democracy unless women are given the opportunity to take responsibility for their own lives.”
Benedicta has personal experience of Irish politics as a candidate in the local elections of 2004 and 2009. She is working to develop a non-partisan political training resource that will be used for training, mentoring and supporting young women to take the leap into active citizenship, political participation and leadership.