National strategy needed for re-engaging learners post-pandemic – Aontas
Aontas wants a national strategy to address the pandemic’s long-term impact on “marginalised learners and the community education and FET sector”. Pictured above: Niamh O’Reilly, Aontas CEO.
Show your colours on #IDAHOBIT Day & LGBTI+ Awareness Week (May 16-22)
IDAHOBIT stands for International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia and it takes place on May 17th, in the midst of LGBTI+ Awareness Week (May 16-22). Events are to take place around the country.
Call to protect community-based Local Employment Services
The Irish Local Development Network (ILDN) representing Ireland’s 49 Local Development Companies (LDCs) has called on Oireachtas members “to ensure that the future of community-based Local Employment Services are protected and developed”.
Music to everyone’s ears – LEADER funds 60 violins in Louth
Despite the pandemic, every evening schoolkids from three schools in Co. Louth meet online to practice the violin. It’s not the easiest instrument to master, but these children are now musicians who can boast of having performed in front of thousands of people.
The violins they play were funded through LEADER. It is a sign of how varied the support to communities can be nowadays through this fund.
We’re all in this together! NOT
Speakers at a recent human rights event in Cork showed they are wiser now to the inequalities from our response to Covid-19 and we’re not all in this together, not when you look at the life-chances during this pandemic of migrants, care home residents, Travellers, and others. As one speaker put it, capitalism is dictating our morality. BETH ARDILL REPORTS:
The community’s desire to see Moyross progress
Devotion to the community emerged as one of the strongest features during Moyross’s #BuildOurRoad campaign.
Islanders film life on one of Ireland’s few Covid-free spots
A series of short films released in January capture the beautiful stillness of Inishbofin during the sun-soaked lockdown of 2020. Mercifully, despite reopening for tourism in July of last year, Inishbofin has recorded only two isolated cases of Covid-19 in the past 12 months and the island is currently Covid-free.
Mucklagh mother and son Eileen & Ray are changing Ireland
Mother and son, Eileen and Ray Lucey from Mucklagh, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, feature on the front cover of the latest edition of ‘Changing Ireland’, highlighting the role of carers and those receiving care across Ireland.
‘The Peoples Transition’ sings of bottom-up development
A new report signals that we are on the threshold of a possibly great era for community development, local development and social justice. It explains how we can best tackle inequality from the bottom-up. The report by social justice think-tank Tasc and colleagues in Europe puts people and local communities at the heart of the transition. ‘The Peoples Transition’ points out that if the transition is not fair it will not be made at all. Davie Philip reports:
84% of young women abused said it had a “severe” impact on them – Womens Aid
Women’s Aid released a report on young people’s experience of abuse in intimate relationships here in Ireland to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25th).
121 Family Resource Centres looking to the future
SUMMARY: A special report was published last month to mark the 25th year of the national Family Resource Centre Programme. The 60-page visionary document is called ‘Our Story’ and it looks back but also forward as Family Resource Centres celebrate their grassroots successes. In 2020, all 121 centres played an important role in helping communities respond to the pandemic.
Government funds keeping Lucan disability group and others operational
Joe O’Brien, Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, on November 12, announced funding of €51m from the Dormant Accounts Fund “to address disadvantage across the country”.
The funding has increased. Four years ago, the spend was €28.5m.
Ruairi’s serendipitous timing in offering communities hope
BOOK REVIEW – McKiernan has written “a compelling memoir”, says Aine Rynne. Published as the pandemic broke, it became a bestseller and could be the perfect gift for the community activist in your family!
Kerry’s Mental Health & Wellbeing Fest went ahead despite restrictions
EXCERPT: “The feedback we got back from the public was great because we had to change a lot of things this year.”
Volunteers patrol with Limerick Treaty Suicide Prevention
Last night, on the eve of World Suicide Prevention Day, ‘Changing Ireland’ met volunteers patrolling with Limerick Treaty Suicide Prevention (LTSP).
Meet Ireland’s airborne community medics
Meet the Republic of Ireland’s first airborne community medics who are saving lives by saving time. In August, for example, they received 54 callouts.
TOMI REICHENTAL: “It starts with whispers, then it’s murder”
When Ray Lucey spoke to Tomi Reichental, one of the last two Holocaust survivors living in Ireland, he talked about the Nazi exterminations and warned about the future of humanity if things continue as they are.
Female empowerment in 2001, with School Street’s Linda Walsh – But where is Linda now?
We recall Linda’s story of struggle and success on International Women’s Day. If anyone knows her, please contact us as, if it is possible, we would love to re-interview Linda for ‘Changing Ireland’.
Full house: Tickets snapped up for Friday’s Ballyhaunis seminar on Embracing Diversity
At an event this week in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, ticket holders will hear how embracing diversity has been good for the town.
INSPIRE A NATION: Awesome People – Brigid Quilligan Community worker & activist
What motivates you as a volunteer?
I see too many young people from my community dying. We need to change policy, practice and legislation so that it includes and is led by the marginalised.
#FollowFriday: Logophile @MiaBeetle on how kindness goes a long way
In a world where, all too often, those who are going through periods of difficulty are ignored, Maria O’Dwyer shows how a simple bit of kindness can make a world of difference.
Taylor Richardson: Reaching for the stars and paying it forward
In Jacksonville, Florida, STEM and community spirit are championed by a perhaps unlikely figure: 16-year-old Taylor Richardson
Who won top prize at the 2019 Foróige Youth Citizenship Awards?
Every year, the Aldi-sponsored Foróige Youth Citizenship Awards take place, giving young people around Ireland the chance to gain recognition and be celebrated for their hard work and commitment in the community. But who claimed the main prize at the most recent competition?
What is Local Employment Service’s success rate?
Ahead of the launch of a tendering process for delivery of job activation programmes, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection commissioned Indecon to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of Local Employment Services. Here, editor Allen Meagher dives in to the results.
63 CAO courses that could land you a community development job
Today is the CAO’s Change of Mind deadline, marking the last point at which college applicants can choose the path that will set the course for their early career.
Natnoot: Enterprise funds, inspiration and a wheatgrass empire
In times of unemployment and economic difficulties, some of the brightest stars are the entrepreneurs who chance it all on an idea.
Are Travellers being given a fair shake in ‘progressive’ Ireland?
When reporter Ray Lucey met with female community health workers from the Offaly Traveller Movement, a new world was opened up to him.
The magic formula: Castleblayney delivers ‘knockout’ health fair
Health fairs can be a great way to educate a community on how to live a healthy life, but how can you ensure that your effort is hitting the mark? Castleblayney may have the answer.
Is community development the key to preventing family violence?
New Zealand is renowned for its beautiful natural landscapes, its blockbuster output and its sporting prowess. What it’s less well known for is its major issue with family violence. Researcher and family violence prevention practitioner Cristy Trewartha discusses here one of the approaches designed to make a difference.
Community education and its powerful impact beyond the classroom
As the Limerick Community Education Network celebrated its 25th birthday last year, editor Allen Meagher looked at the far-reaching impact of its classes.
LCEN at 25: It’s about meeting people and gaining confidence
As the Limerick Community Education Network marks its 25th anniversary, community workers and staff members were honoured at a celebration event.
Tech in the community: Why you should sit up and take notice
The tech sector is vast and growing, but it has a reputation for leaving some members of society behind. Here’s why we need to play a part in changing that.
What’s in a name? Centre for Independent Living rebrands as ILMI
As the Centre for Independent Living unveils a new name, Allen Meagher looks at why the organisation won’t be changing much else.
How-to: Growing tech skills in your community
We can all agree that tech knowledge is essential for the future of work, but how can communities support tech learning?
Women’s Aid makes urgent call for domestic homicide reviews
As Women’s Aid released its 2018 Femicide Watch report, the organisation called for a new approach to reducing deaths from femicide.
What will the future of gender equality look like?
At a Wexford Local Development event that aimed ‘to examine the local context 100 years after women were given the right to vote,’ issues of gender equality in politics, education and daily life were raised.
Wexford calls for equality: ‘We cannot accept progress in 50-year slots’
If expectations in Wexford are replicated in other counties, there could be a surge in the number of women elected as local councillors.
You, #MeToo and the community of women
As we enter 2019, Kirsty Tobin outlines #MeToo, the Silence Breakers, #TimesUp and Donald Trump’s election – just some of the reasons, in short, why Changing Irelandis prepared to declare 2018 the Year of the Woman.
Soldiers in petticoats: 100 years of women’s right to vote
Late last year, women’s right to vote in Ireland turned 100 years old. Here, we examine the history of Irish women’s suffrage.
Are we there yet? Fight for women’s equality in Ireland not over
As we launch Women’s Week here on Changing Ireland, editor Allen Meagher shares his thoughts on the continued fight for equality.
3 people who had life-changing experiences with Moyross Youth Academy
During the early 2000s, Moyross became known nationally for extreme poverty and high crime rates. Some organisations sought to give residents a way out of that stereotype. One of them was the Moyross Youth Academy.
Is new Youth Academy proof Moyross has turned a corner?
The new Moyross Youth Academy has been officially opened at a launch event featuring Minister of State David Stanton and several former Moyross youth programme participants.
How has the DEASP responded to recent JobPath criticism?
Amid criticism and concerns about the JobPath programme, the recently rebranded Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has touted its successes.
JobPath: What have I learned after 6 months on the programme?
As frustrations with JobPath are voiced throughout the country, reporter Ben Panter shares an inside look at his own experience.
Ain’t no mountain high enough: Young dads learn the ropes
Parenting can be tough at any age, but for teenagers it can be especially challenging. Luckily, there are programmes in place that can help.
Pobal conference: Varadkar responds to criticisms from the floor
At Pobal’s annual conference, Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar and Philip O’Connor of the Geary Institute addressed the concerns of attendees.
Family of late Clodagh Hawe launch fund for Women’s Aid
As Women’s Aid marks the 16 Days of Action Opposing Violence against Women campaign, the family of Clodagh Hawe launches a fundraising effort for the organisation.
Groups campaigning for gender parity in Irish politics
Although we live in an ostensibly equal society, there are many areas in which men are given arguably preferential treatment. Politics is just one.
Sola Symposium: Focus on greater quality to achieve greater equality
At Sola’s gathering of activists, academics and private sector actors, disability activists made sure their voices were heard loud and clear.
What supports are in place to combat rural poverty?
With poverty levels in rural Ireland demonstrably worse than in urban areas, and less visible, Cian Matthew Kearns asks what supports are available to those affected.
Further perspectives on ‘Alignment’
– Excerpts from reports by Dr Brendan O’Keeffe, Niall Crowley, Debra Mountford, Seán O’Riordan:
