Challenge of Change

‘Challenge of Change Networking Event’

Ramada Encore, Belfast November 16-17, 2012

By Issah Huseini

WHO WE ARE

•

We are an independent na+onal umbrella Network of 165 Ethnic Minority Led

Organisa+ons in Ireland comprising of over 75 na+onali+es.

•

The Network was formed in 2003 but formally launched in 2005 as

New Communi+es Partnership •

We have Offices in Dublin, Cork and

Limerick. We also deliver service on specific

days of the week at various Ci+zens Informa+on Centre offices across Ireland.

OUR VISION:

An intercultural and inclusive Irish Society where minority ethnic groups experience

equality in economic, social, poli+cal and cultural aspects of Irish life.

WHAT WE DO

NCP works to promote an equal, inclusive and responsive Ireland, in which people from diverse communiGes are acGvely parGcipaGng without barriers, are valued, and treated with dignity and respect, where their opportuniGes, quality of life and ciGzenship are equal.

NCP works to develop capacity among new communiGes and especially women and young people in new communiGes to acGvely engage to the fullest possible extent in opportuniGes for economic, social, civic and poliGcal parGcipaGon.

NCP works to enhance the parGcipaGon of ethnic minoriGes in decision making processes and consultaGve forums, so that the ethnic minority Civil Society will become strategic partners and equal stakeholders rather than target groups or passive recipients in the governance process and public life.

NCP creates opportunity for minority ethnic community leaders to engage directly with service planners and providers to arGculate, in their own words, the needs of their communiGes whilst at the same Gme promoGng intercultural dialogue at local, regional and naGonal level to help develop common understanding of our shared ciGzenship.

NCP supports immigrants to establish a foothold and become fully parGcipaGng ciGzens of Irish society, while charGng pathways for the progression of their families and future generaGons.

NCP promotes greater understanding among new communiGes of the history, norms and values of the Irish society which in turn fosters a sense of belonging and shared ciGzenship.

HOW WE DO IT

EU Umbrella Networks, IntegraGon Forum, Links to EM in Ireland, Government Depts., etc.

Statutory Agencies

Na+onal & EU

ConsultaGon, Advice & Support to Statutory Agencies: Garda Intercultural (Irish

Police) Irish Human Rights Commission, Football Associa+on of Ireland (FAI) Gaelic Athle+c Associa+on (GAA), Camogie Associa+on of Ireland, Public Service Appointments Commission, Health Service Execu+ve.

Local Authori+es Local AuthoriGes: Limerick & County, Cork &

Networking EMLOs, Civil Society Orgs, Faith Based Orgs, NaGonal MigraGon NGOs, C & V organisaGons.

Networks

County, Dublin City Council, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Co Council, South Dublin Co Council DCC & Fingal County Council RepresentaGon on SPCs, SIM and Forums SupporGng Local EM integraGon Forums

SUPPORT TO STATUTORY AGENCIES

ConsultaGon, Advise & Support to Statutory Agencies

Consulta)on in developing Intercultural Policies & Strategies for the following Statutory Agencies: Garda Intercultural Commi^ees, Irish Human Rights Commission, Football Associa+on of Ireland, Gaelic Athle+c Associa+on (GAA) and Camogie Associa+on of Ireland, Health Service Execu+ve(s), Central Sta+s+cs Office, Equality Authority, Public Appointments Service, Ci+zens Informa+on Board, The Arts Council, FAS Irish Na+onal Training & Employment Agency

PARTICIPATION & REPRESENTATION

NaGonal Level ParGcipaGon & RepresentaGon Membership of Implementa+on Commi^ees on Intercultural Policies & Strategies Wri^en Submissions and Oral Presenta+ons to various Dial Commi^ees on issues of concern to Ethnic Minori+es Par+al Representa+on of Migrant Voice in both Print and Electronic Media Debates Mee+ng with Relevant Sector Ministers and Senior Civil Servants to raise issues of concern to Ethnic Minori+es

LOCAL AUTHORITIES

Local AuthoriGes:

• Limerick City & County Council • Cork City & County Council • Dublin City Council • Dun Laoghaire-­‐Rathdown County Council • South Dublin County Council • Fingal County Council

RepresentaGon on Strategy Policy CommiWee(s), Social Inclusion Measures CommiWee(s) & Forums in Limerick, Cork and Dublin • Community & Voluntary Forums • Social Inclusion Measures Commi^ee • VEC Community Educa+on Commi^ee • Joint Policing Commi^ee • City & County Development Boards • Environment Culture and Community Strategic Policy Commi^ee

SupporGng Local Ethnic Minority IntegraGon Forums

• Fingal Ethnic Network • Cork City Integra+on Forum • Dublin City Integra+on Forum • Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Ethnic Minority Integra+on Forum • Limerick City & County Integra+on Forum

NATIONAL & EU

EU Umbrella Networks Ireland’s RepresentaGve to the EU IntegraGon Forum UNESCO Youth Against Racism IniGaGve NaGonal Steering CommiWee for European Year of Volunteering 2011 Fundamental Rights Pla]orm of EU Fundamental Rights Agency

• European An+ Poverty Network • European Network Against Racism • European Youth Forum • Euroci+es network

Government Departments

• Department of Jus+ce & Law Reform • Department of Community, Equality & Gaeltacht Affairs • Department of Health & Children • Department of the Taoiseach • Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government • Department of Educa+on & Skills • Department of Social Protec+on

NETWORKS

Local Area Partnership

Dublin Inner City Partnership, Northside Partnership, Fingal Leader, Southside Partnership, Cork City Partnership, Bray Partnership, Paul Partnership Limerick, Ballymun Partnership, Canal Partnership, CPLN Partnership, Dodder Valley Partnership, Avondhu Blackwater Partnership, Ballyfermot Partnership, West Limerick Resources, Rathmines Pembroke Community Partnership, Galway City Partnership

Academic InsGtuGons

University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Na+onal University of Ireland Maynooth, University of Limerick, University College Cork, Duke University-­‐USA, Dublin City University, Na+onal College of Ireland, Kimmage Development Studies Centre Dublin, Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Educa+on & Counselling-­‐ USA, NOVA SouthEastern University-­‐ USA, London Metropolitan University

Civil Society Orgs, Faith Based Orgs, NaGonal MigraGon NGOs & Others

Barnados, Migrant Rights Centre, Doras Luimni, Respond Housing Associa+on, OPEN, Integra+on Centre, Immigrant Council of Ireland, IBEC, Islamic Cultural Centre Dublin, Na+onal Youth Council, City of Dublin Youth Service Board, One Family, Dublin Employment Pact

SOME OF OUR PROJECTS

Ø Par+cipa+on in the Democra+c Process: The 2009 Migrant Voter Ini+a+ve and the 2012 Voter Informa+on Leaflet. Ø Joint workshops involving Migrant leaders with Local Authority Senior management and Elected Representa+ves. Ø Training of community representa+ves as Intercultural Liaison Volunteers (ILV) to act as a link between communi+es and their Local Authority. Ø Delivering work placement/internship opportuni+es to enhance employability skills of third country na+onals and develop the diversity of Local Authority's work force. Ø Delivering informa+on workshops aimed at promo+ng awareness and understanding of Irish poli+cal system, culture, norms and values of Irish society ethnic minority leaders and faith based organisa+ons.

WAY FORWARD: CHALLENGE OF CHANGE NETWORK

Resource the Groups

-­‐ Resourcing migrant groups far from promo+ng the emergence of parallel communi+es will enable the migrants to acquire the skills and virtues they need to engage with the state as well as the other pillars of the society.

Balance of Power – facilitate the process and

support Ethnic Minority groups to meet and discuss issues that are grounded in their lived experiences and to ar+culate, in their own words, the needs of their communi+es. We want to be the subjects rather than the objects of our own development.

WAY FORWARD: CHALLENGE OF CHANGE NETWORK

Engender collabora+ve work with all stakeholders to create opportunity for minority ethnic individuals, groups and leaders to engage directly with service planners and providers and also encourage our Public Representa+ves to directly engage and consult with Ethnic Minority groups to know their needs, assets, aspira+ons, passions and concerns.

The existence of ‘Challenge of Change Network’ is an indica+on of the amount of social capital in the new communi+es in Northern Ireland. I would urge you to build on this social capital to build cohesive communi+es whilst at the same +me promo+ng intercultural dialogue at local, regional and na+onal level to help develop common understanding of our shared ci+zenship.

THANK YOU!