Waterford charity founder meets Barack Obama

Tammy Darcy, Founder and CEO of Waterford charity The Shona Project, was among a select group of individuals invited to meet President Barack Obama ahead of his appearance at the 3Arena in Dublin last week. 

Tammy, who was selected in 2024 as an Obama Foundation Leader for Europe, described the meeting as both inspiring and deeply affirming.

“It was an incredible honour to meet President Obama here in Dublin. 

"His leadership has inspired me and so many others to believe in the power of community, resilience and hope. 

The meeting came just days before The Shona Project unveiled its new three-year strategic plan, setting out an ambitious vision to expand its reach and impact on young women across Ireland and beyond.

Tammy added: "To have this opportunity at the same time as launching our most ambitious strategy yet feels especially meaningful. It reinforces my belief that young women in Ireland deserve the very best support and opportunities, and that our work at The Shona Project is more important than ever.” 

The Shona Project, founded in 2016, has already reached over 250,000 young people monthly through its digital platforms and more than 45,000 students directly in schools. 

The project aims to educate, empower, and inspire young girls in Ireland.

With its new plan, the organisation aims to deepen its impact, expand programming, and strengthen its work in empowering young women to become confident, resilient, and connected.