Our community: Suzanne Roche - Gateway to Education Limerick

“Our circular approach began naturally. From the start, I wanted to make education affordable for every family, and reusing schoolbooks and uniforms was the most practical and sustainable way to do that.” So says Suzanne Roche, who sees circularity as going far beyond reducing waste.

The person behind Gateway to Education (GTEL), Suzanne is working hard to create learning opportunities and employment pathways that give way to a more inclusive community. “Circularity became not just what we do, but how we operate.”

Rising costs of education

Many families struggle with the price of school, whether it’s uniforms or books, and making sure there is affordable access to supplies like these has been central to the work done at GTEL.

Suzanne is also tackling the social exclusion this brings “by keeping items in circulation, and opening doors for people who need support, whether that’s through affordable books, volunteering, or training in our inclusive work programme.”

The books don’t just stay local, either. Each year GTEL ships thousands of reused books to children in Malawi and other countries, extending the life of learning materials and promoting global educational equality. This allows excess books to be reused to support literacy and learning, giving both people and materials a second chance to thrive.

2025 saw the launch of their ‘Read to Grow’ campaign, a project that called for children’s book donations in order to promote literacy and give a second life to these books. To date they have donated 2,800 children’s books to new homes. Past projects include the ‘Gift A Book’ scheme, with the goal of enriching the lives of those less fortunate through gifted books.

Patience in a busy world

Taking the time to provide tailored support for her volunteers makes all the difference. Every person has different needs and this is something Suzanne takes into consideration when managing her team.

One example of the work Suzanne does with her volunteers is when she helped a person who had previously experienced a stroke. Through patience and care she helped him to return to work through their ‘I Can Work’ inclusive training course. By taking on practical but gentle tasks like sorting and pricing books, he was able to rebuild his confidence and memory, all while contributing to the organisation's mission.

“I’m inspired every day by the people who walk through our doors—volunteers, families, students, and community members who remind us why inclusion matters. I’m also inspired by the idea that small, practical actions—like repairing, reusing, or teaching—can create a much bigger ripple of change.”

Reuse through reading

“When someone buys a reused book or donates clothing, that’s their first step into the circular economy, even if they don’t call it that,” says Suzanne. Through storytelling and education, she has been able to make circular practices feel accessible, local, and meaningful.

Meeting people where they are has been so important for promoting circularity for Suzanne. Meeting people at her shop, schools and on social media, she is able to introduce them to approachable ways of circular living.

While Suzanne and her team are making a big impact locally, she would love to see more direct support for community-based reuse projects and funding that recognises the environmental impact of their outcomes.

“Many grassroots groups like ours do vital circular work but operate on minimal budgets. Sustained investment would turn good local initiatives into lasting national impact,” says Suzanne.

Looking at the future of GTEL, Suzanne is expanding the inclusive training and circular skills programmes, building stronger employment pathways for people with disabilities and those returning to work.

GTEL will also continue promoting book reuse and textile recycling, and strengthen their international book sharing project to reach even more schools and communities.

Do you have school and children's books sitting at home? Why not gather them up and donate them to your nearest charity shop?. If you have more than books to donate, follow our tips on circular wins for downsizing.