DE News February 2012

DEEEP and IDEA are pleased to invite you to a series of Webinars on " Development as Shared Responsability".

The first session will take place on February 15th, at 1.00 pm (GMT+1). Amy Bartlett, Coordinator of the Open Forum for CSO Development Effectiveness will be presenting the first webinar " Busan and Beyond".

Joining the webinar is free of costs, but places are limited. So if you are interested, register by sending an email to Susan Gallwey (susan@ideaonline.ie) before February 9th. Once you successfully registered, you will receive a confirmation and an invitation weblink as well as instructions for using the WebEx.

EIL has launched a video competition to offer one person the chance to spend 6 weeks living and volunteering in a local community project in Vietnam.

More information: 

http://www.facebook.com/EILInterculturalLearning?sk=app_95936962634

www.eilireland.org

We are less than 11 months away from the Irish Presidency of the EU beginning 1 January, 2013.

The current Danish Presidency have some youth-specific news to share. It may give us some ideas for what we can do in our own Presidency next year! If you have ideas, please contact international@nyci.ie

Throughout our work, NYCI continues to support all who participated in the Zambia-Ireland youth worker exchange by providing fora for contact and ongoing invovlvement in youth work and development education with young people in Ireland and Zambia. An 'exchange corner' on our website is a place for those involved in the exchange to share their experience, views and feedback of their participation.

During the past year, many articles have been featured, which you can read here. This month we are very happy to present a digi-tale from a Zambian participant in the 2011 exchange - Hellen Chaponda.  To view Hellen's digi-tale (and others!) click here.

BeLonG To has launched a training programme on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Ireland. In February 2012 BeLonG To will commence a training programme for staff of services that work with asylum seekers and refugees. These trainings will assist service providers to better understand the particular situation of LGBT asylum seekers and refugees, and will guide service providers on how to work sensitively with this group.

Since its inception in 2003, BeLonG To has provided support and services to young LGBT asylum seekers and refugees, many of whom face isolation and marginalisation on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. In response to growing concerns regarding the wellbeing of these young people, BeLonG To established a two year pilot project, the first of its kind in Ireland, to increase the safety and quality of life of LGBT asylum seekers and refugees.

Describing his experience as a young man seeking asylum on the basis of sexual orientation who received support from BeLonG To’s LGBT Asylum Seekers and Refugees Youth Service, Adam D*  stated.

 “This is the truth: I don’t think I’d be here right now if it wasn’t for BeLonG To. I really wanted to kill myself, I just really wanted to die and get away from this. But then after talking to people from this service, encouraging me and constantly telling me that everything would be ok, and still giving me room to express myself all the time... They have helped me a lot, I have grown, and I have learned how to accept myself”.

For more information, contact Marissa@belongto.org or call 085 888 9191

Young People Young Voters – Supporting Active Citizenship Event is part of an EU ‘structured dialogue’ (formal conversation) process which brings together decision makers and young people throughout Europe to explore reducing the voting age for young people to 16 years.

Booking is now closed as all places have been reserved. If you wish to stay informed about it, contact international@nyci.ie

This NYCI event will feed the viewpoint of Irish young people, youth workers and those who work with young people into the structured process on critical aspects relating to youth participation in institutional democracy (especially in elections). It will explore what actions could increase youth participation at local, national and European elections. It will also address the issue of reducing the voting age for young people from 18 to 16 years.

Keynote Address: Deputy Simon Harris TD

On: Saturday, February 9th 2012 from 9.30-4.30
In: The Morrison Hotel, Ormond Quay, Dublin 1

Cost and Registration: This event is free for young people aged 15-25 years where travel and lunch are covered.  There is a €15 seminar fee for those outside the 15-25 years age bracket. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

To book your place, you must sign up through the NYCI website. Please follow the link:

http://www.youth.ie/nyci/vote16-youth-conference

Should you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact Valerie at international@nyci.ie

The closing date for registration is Wednesday 1st February.

**Please note there are limited places for this event**

**All those aged 15-18 years will be required to complete and submit a consent form in advance of attending the conference**

DOWNLOAD CONSENT FORM

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has launched a public consultation on a Draft Code of Fairness, Objectivity and Impartiality in News and Current Affairs in the broadcast media.

The Code has been drafted, under the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 2009, to ensure that all news broadcast is reported and presented in an objective and impartial manner without any expression of the broadcaster’s own views. The BAI is now seeking views about this Code from broadcasters, journalists, political parties, voluntary groups, professional organisations and members of the public.

The draft code sets out the underpinning principles and a range of more specific rules under key headings that have been developed by the BAI. The principles deal with such matters as fairness; objectivity and impartiality; accuracy and responsiveness; and transparency and accountability.

Full details of the Draft Code and details of the consultation process are available at www.bai.ie. The

The BAI looks forward to your engagement in this consultation, and if you require further information, you can email fairness@bai.ie, or call 01- 644 1200.

INDEX is the Irish Newsletter for Development Education Exchange. It aims to provide a space for people interested in educating on development and social justice issues to share information and perspectives on global development issues, and on the practice of development education at Irish, European and international levels. 

This issue of Index is about interconnectivity and co-dependence of various aspects of development education. Each of the featured articles is addressing an example of such relationships and bringing them together is to inspire an even higher level of integration providing a guideline towards understanding full complexity of global development issues and specificity of development education.

Interconnectivity & Co-dependence:  campaigning...education, global...local, policy...practice

Contributions include:

• Connecting the Dots: Campaign and educating on hot topics, by John Smith
• Mind the Gap: How can we bridge the gap between development education and policy? by Mags Liddy
• New ECO-Sustainability: ECO-UNESCO Introduces the New ECO-Sustainability Award taking a whole organisation approach to sustainability, by Elaine Nevin                   
• Index Links: Dev Ed courses and events                                                                                       
• EU Corner                                                                                                                                            
• IDEA Corner                                                                                                                                       
• Dev Ed news, funding & resources                                                                                                  
• Bridging the Gap between Policy and Practice, by Stephen McCloskey  
• Development Education in the Community Sector, by Rachel Dempsey                
• Resource Review: Exploring Diversity and Global Justice through the Arts, by Aileen Tennant        

This and past issues of INDEX can be found at:

http://www.comhlamh.org/index.html

http://www.comhlamh.org/Index_Jan_2012.html

The next issue will be out in April 2012. If you have any information you’d like included, an issue you’d like to see covered, or if you’d like to contribute an article yourself please get in touch with Comhlámh or another member of the Editorial Group. Contact Róisín:  roisin@comhlamh.org or call 01 4783490.

www.developmenteducation.ie is a partnership website managed by a consortium of organisations including: 80.20 Educating and Acting for a Better World; NYCI, IDEA, Aidlink, Concern Worldwide and Self-Help Africa. 

The website contains a range of interesting blog entries on diverse issues such as child soldiers, food systems, child poverty, media images and cocoa.

• (30/01/2012) The sharp end of a global food system http://www.developmenteducation.ie/blog/2012/01/the-sharp-end-of-a-global-food-system/
• (27/01/2012) Johnny Mad Dog brings child soldiers to the big screen http://www.developmenteducation.ie/blog/2012/01/johnny-mad-dog-brings-child-soldiers-to-the-big-screen/
• (25/01/2012) Solar Demi lights up homes in the Philippines with waste plastic bottles http://www.developmenteducation.ie/blog/2012/01/solar-demi-lights-up-homes-in-the-philippines-with-waste-plastic-bottles/
• (23/01/2012) Senegal music legend Youssou N’Dour announces a bid for the presidency http://www.developmenteducation.ie/blog/2012/01/senegal-music-legend-youssou-n%E2%80%99dour-announces-a-bid-for-the-presidency/
• (20/01/2012) The One Percent-ers http://www.developmenteducation.ie/blog/2012/01/the-one-percent-ers/
• (18/01/2012) Media Images – the debate continues http://www.developmenteducation.ie/blog/2012/01/media-images-%E2%80%93-the-debate-continues/
• (16/01/2012) Food4thought – what does child poverty mean to you? http://www.developmenteducation.ie/blog/2012/01/food-4thought-what-does-child-poverty-mean-to-you/
• (13/01/2012) Chibundu Onuzo and the Spider King’s Daughter http://www.developmenteducation.ie/blog/2012/01/chibundu-onuzo-and-the-spider-kings-daughter/
• (11/01/2012) Celebrating 50 years of Frantz Fanon http://www.developmenteducation.ie/blog/2012/01/celebrating-50-years-of-frantz-fanon/
• (09/01/2012) Review of the White Paper on Irish Aid http://www.developmenteducation.ie/blog/2012/01/review-of-the-white-paper-on-irish-aid/
• (06/01/2012) Top 10 HIV-related stories making headlines in 2011 http://www.developmenteducation.ie/blog/2012/01/top-10-hiv-related-stories-making-headlines-in-2011/
• (05/01/2012) Cocoa with a conscience http://www.developmenteducation.ie/blog/2012/01/cocoa-with-a-conscience/
• (03/01/2012) Good news from Africa http://www.developmenteducation.ie/blog/2012/01/good-news-from-africa/

The Advanced Research Consortium on Gender, Culture and the Knowledge Society is pleased to invite you to attend a series of public lectures on gender during February and March in NUI Galway and University of Limerick (UL).

For further information see: www.genderarc.org or contact: odette.clarke@ul.ie

Lectures are as follows:

Professor Diane Negra

(University College Dublin)

Gendering the Recession in Ireland

Friday 17 February 2012

Moore Institute, 1.15pm-2.15pm

National University of Ireland, Galway

------------------------------------------------------

Professor Jackie Stacey

(University of Manchester, UK)

Feminism and the Cultural Politics of Thatcher’s Legacy

Thursday 1 March 2012, 4pm-6pm

KBG-16, Kemmy Business School

University of Limerick

------------------------------------------------------

Professor Diane Elson

(University of Essex, UK)

Economic Crisis, Budget Cuts and Equality

Thursday 8 March 2012

Venue TBC, 4pm-6pm

National University of Ireland, Galway

The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is now preparing the 2011 annual report on hate crimes. The report provides an overview of data collected on hate crimes as well as of responses to combat hate crimes. It will be launched on International Tolerance Day on 16 November 2012.

As in previous years, ODIHR encourages submissions from non-governmental organizations. This year, ODIHR has compiled further information for NGOs, please find more information on TANDIS: http://tandis.odihr.pl/?p=ki-hc,ngo
- Overview of the hate crime report;
- Frequently asked questions;
- Sample format for collecting information on hate crimes

Information should be sent to tndinfo@odihr.pl no later than 30 March 2012 indicating in the subject line "HCR 2011 (NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION)".

How can we strengthen the interface between action and education in our Development Education practice?  What can we learn from Popular Education movements in the Global South?  You are warmly invited to come along to a World Café where IDEA will be exploring these challenging issues. The World Café is part of the IDEA ‘Ad+DEd Value Mobilising Week’ and will be hosted by two visiting Global Educators, Donnabelle Celebrado and Bärbel Frey de Vacaflores. 

Date: Thursday 9 February

Time: 6:00 – 8:30 pm

Venue: The Greenhouse, St. Andrew’s St

There is no charge for this event but IDEA asks you to book in advance.  For further information and booking contact susan@ideaonline.ie.

This will be an informal, creative, interactive evening of discussion and learning. World Café is a method of hosting conversations that makes the most of the diversity of a group. Donnabelle and Barbel will kick off the evening with an introduction and overview of their work in popular education and advocacy and how this may relate to development education in Ireland. We will then facilitate 3 rounds of discussion on the questions above, inviting everyone to contribute to the response. Whether you are new to development education or an experienced practitioner this evening will both inform and inspire you. Everyone is welcome.

About Bärbel and Donnabelle

Bärbel Frey de Vacaflores is an educator and coach, inspired by Paulo Freire, systemical thinking and peacemaking. She is a member of the Paulo Freire Institute in Berlin. She worked as a project coordinator in an International Leadership Training for educators from Guatemala, Honduras and Peru and has a special connection with Bolivia. Nature connection plays an active part in her work and life.

Donnabelle Celebrado is director of the Br. Polycarp Institute for Community Development Foundation in Davao del Sur in the Philippines. She is also an adult educator and trainer in the Cor Jesu College, Digos City. Her background is in Development Education, Participatory Development, Curriculum Development and Theatre in Education. She has also worked in the area of indigenous knowledge and traditions in the Philippines, working directly with communities affected by development issues.

For more about the Ad+DEd Value Learning Programme and our Global Educators please see here.

For more about World Cafés please see http://www.theworldcafe.com/overview.html

http://www.ideaonline.ie/content/thurs-9th-feb-world-caf%C3%A9-dev-ed-and-advocacy-global-justice

Facebook: IDEA Ireland http://www.facebook.com/events/222829167806404/#!/events/222829167806404/

Twitter: @IDEAIreland

In January 2012, Irish Aid communicated their new funding mechanism for development education. The full communication can be downloaded here. In particular, Irish Aid have announced a new annual innovation grant aimed at supporting innovation both in terms of approaches to development education and sectors being reached.

Irish Aid expects this grant to replace the existing annual grant (though they recognise organisations will need time to adjust to the new approach so that important contributions are not lost). Read more here

Youth Work & Sustainability

When? Wednesday, 15th February 2012, 10:00 a.m. – 4 p.m.

This interactive training session is designed to give participants an increased awareness of the principles of sustainable development along with ideas about practical activities for integrating Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into their work with young people.  For more information: http://www.ecounesco.ie/eco-dev/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=205&Itemid=27

Peer Education & Sustainability

When? Thursday, 23rd February 2012, 10:00 a.m. – 4 p.m.

This training is for youth workers committed to running a Peer Education Programme with young people that explores the themes of sustainability and how to facilitate personal development in young people as peer educators. Learn how to run a 12 week Peer Education Programme centred on the principles of sustainability and leadership using ECO-UNESCO’s Youth for the Future Peer Education Handbook that will be provided FREE as part of this training. For more information, here http://www.ecounesco.ie/eco-dev/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=208&Itemid=27

Fee subsidised by Irish Aid. Booking is essential as places are limited.

For further information:

Megan Noah, Youth for Sustainable Development Programme

ysd@ecounesco.ie | www.ecounesco.ie | 01 662 5491

One Wild Life & pop – up productions are delighted to host another ‘Trailblazers and Aha moments’ spectacular, bringing together a diverse team of change makers, artists, social entrepreneurs, provocateurs and activists to talk about their ‘Aha moments’ and share some secret acts of non-compliance.

Tweeting with the hashtag #trailblazersaha and the facebook event page is here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/327226680651446/

Please help to spread the word!

Venue: Unitarian Church, 112 St Stephen’s Green West, Dublin 2

Map link here: http://www.dublinunitarianchurch.org/contact/

This course is designed to introduce participants to the theory, methodologies and practices required to develop and maintain culturally diverse youth work settings. It will assist participants to engage with young people, volunteers and staff from diverse cultures.

Learning Content:

• Look at Culture and how it affects the way we work.
• Recognise the different stages of cultural competency.
• Identify differing ways of working and communicating.
• Develop the skills to work more effectively with young people and volunteers in a multi-ethnic setting.

Date: 15th February 2012

Time: 10am – 4pm

Location: Jigsaw office, Fairgreen Road, Galway City

Please complete booking form and return by Friday 3rd February.

The Garda Racial Intercultural and Diversity Office will be holding its annual consultation process this year on  Thursday March 22nd 2012 in The Main Conference Centre, Dublin Castle, Dame Street, Dublin 2.

RSVP by Friday February 3r d 2012 to John.OHara@garda.ie. Please include a contact number for each representative attending the event. Those who RSVP will receive further event details in February.

A delegation of six Mozambican parliamentarians, government representatives and members of civil society organisations will be travelling to Ireland as part of a VSO sponsored  study tour taking place from 6-10 February 2012.  As part of this study tour, VSO wishes to invite you to an Open Discussion in the Irish Aid Volunteer and Information Centre on Thursday 9 February  2012 from 10.30am – 12.30pm.  

This meeting will allow members with responsibility for the design and implementation of volunteer services in Mozambique to present their learnings to date, and discuss challenges that the sector faces in their country. The learning objectives behind this tour are to foster learning and understanding amongst delegates around volunteering activities in Ireland, and how they are supported by government and implemented by the voluntary sector.

Your contribution and attendance at this discussion on volunteering would be greatly appreciated.   If you are available to attend, please RSVP by Tuesday 7 February 2012 to info@vso.ie or by contacting VSO Ireland at 01-6401060.    The centre’s location is indicated here:  http://www.irishaid.gov.ie/centre/contact_us.asp

DEEEP will produce a new advocacy toolkit ("Making the case for Development Education"). To support the DEEEP team in the creation of this publication, theyare are looking for a consultant who could work on this for 16 days in February and March (daily rate 300,- Euro). Please find all details in the terms of reference. Deadline for applications is 31 January.

DEEEP is a project funded by the European Commission to coordinate and manage the activities of the DARE (development awareness raising and education) forum of CONCORD.

A public meeting will be hosted by Debt Justice Action, a coalition of civil society groups, some of whom have campaigned for debt justice in the Global South.

The meeting takes place at  7pm, 24 January, Teachers' Club, 36 Parnell Square

Download the flyer here, or get more information from:

www.notourdebt.ie
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NotOurDebt
Twitter: twitter.com/#!/NotOurDebt

Dtalk is organising a one-day course on Applying the Dóchas Code of Conduct on the use of Images and Messages on 7 February 2012 in Kimmage Development Studies Centre, Kimmage Manor, Whitehall Road, Dublin 12.

This course aims to explore the Dóchas Code of Conduct on Images and Messages in various aspects of development agency work. 

For more information, please check out: http://dtalk.ie/course.aspx?contentid=62 or contact Catherine Behan catherine.behan@kimmagedsc.org, T.  01 4064307

Racism and Education: Addressing the Concept and Evidence of Institutional Racism from an Irish Perspective - a conference will take place in UCC, Cork on Friday 17th February 2012.

The School of Education and Institute for Social Sciences in the 21st Century UCC invite you to this one-day event. It will provide an opportunity to discuss the concept and evidence of institutional racism in education in Ireland. While all aspects of education and social policy are relevant, there will be a particular focus on schooling. The event will be of particular interest to:
• Migrant and minority ethnic-led organisations
• NGOs
• Policy-makers
• Teachers
• Teacher representatives and teacher educators
• Researchers, postgraduate students
• Youth workers and community workers
• Anti-racism activists
__________________________________________ _______
Registration is free, but places are limited. Refreshments and a light lunch will be provided.
Please register by emailing antiracismeducation@gmail.com. This event is supported by funding received from the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences.

The 13th University on Youth and Development, to be held in the CEULAJ, Mollina, Spain, 16-23 September 2012.

The deadline for submission of proposals is the 17th of February 2012 to nsc.youthandglobalisation@coe.int. You can also access to theses documents in the North-South Centre's Website (www.nscentre.org) or in the Website of the University on Youth and Development (www.uyd.me).

Thee Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 12th NGO Forum on Human Rights will take place on 17 February, from 9 am 5 pm (registration 8.20 am) in Dublin Castle. The event will include a panel discussion on the importance of human rights in the Review of the White Paper on Irish Aid (see www.irishaid.ie/whitepaper for further information on the review).

Mr Eamon Gilmore TD, Tnaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, will deliver the opening address. Further information will be available at http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=317 from mid-January. The completed Registration Form (attached) should be returned to nogforum@dfa.ie by 1 February.

Féile Bríde 2012: Fire & Food: Spotlight on Bolivia. The gathering will be framed with MUSIC and THEATRE and there will be a Céilí and Seisiún in the evening with a Latin American flavour! With Mayra Gomez from Bolivia and Roisin O’Brien, from “Be The Change” Date: Saturday, 4 February 2011, Beginning 1.30pm. Derby House Hotel, Kildare Town

For further information and the brochure, check out the Afri website.

THE HOOK-UP  is a free three day international event in Cork, Ireland, 23rd- 26th Feb 2012 . 

Explore new and exciting volunteer opportunities for creative young people and creative organisations through the European Voluntary Service

The HOOK-UP links Irish young people and organisations to potential partners across Europe working in similar fields and  who are interested in hosting volunteers. 

The HOOK-UP will focus on connecting creative volunteers and organisations who are interested in arts and multimedia. 

The HOOK-UP is about developing a positive collaboration to enhance the creativity and learning of all involved. 

The HOOK-UP is FREE supported by Youth in Action programme and Leargas (Irish National Agency)

The Hook-up is for organisations interested in sending volunteers and also for young people 18-30 who wish to participate in EVS 

-If you are applying as a sending organisation please complete part 1 only

-If you are applying as a sending organisation and bring a young person  please complete part 1+ part 2 (with input from young person)

-If you are a young person applying with no sending organisation please complete part 2 only.

A young person (18-30) may attend without a sending organisation in view of finding a sending organisation at the event. 

For more information, contact Nora and Jess at: thehookupopportunity@gmail.com

Last chance to register!

The deadline for signing-up to our seminar has been extended until Monday 6 February!!

The seminar ‘Making the Case for Development Education in Youth Work' will bring together young people, youth work practitioners and policy-makers (including our new Minister for Trade and Development, Joe Costello, TD!) from national and European level. There will also be a lunc-time showcase of 5 youth work organisations from Dublin, Cork and Galway, exhibiting and telling us about why development education matters to them, and how they go about it.

The seminar aims to provide youth worker practitioners and policy experts with a space to discuss and debate the link between policy and practice through expert inputs, panel discussions and a good practice showcase. It will highlight key policies at a national and European level that help shape development education practice in the youth sector and examine how the youth sector can influence the development of these policies.

When: Thursday 9th February 2012 (9.30am - 4.30pm)
Where: National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
What: The National Youth Council of Ireland invites you to a seminar to showcase good development education practice in the youth sector and to explore the policy context in which good youth work happens.

Cost and Registration:
- FREE for participants aged 15-30 (the seminar is partly funded by the European Commission through the Youth in Action programme. Travel bursaries also available for eligible candidates, at public transport rates).
BOOK HERE (SUBSIDISED) >>

- There is a €15 fee for the seminar for those not in the subsidised age bracket which includes the cost of lunch and refreshments. Payment may be made online, by cheque or at the event.
BOOK HERE (UNSUBSIDISED)>>

Contact deved@nyci.ie for further information

About the event:
Participants will have an increased understanding of the policies that influence development education delivery in the youth sector, while policy makers will have an increased awareness of the critical role of non-formal development education with young people for development and implementation of relevant policies.

Recommendations arising from the seminar will support NYCI’s ongoing advocacy work in relation to development education.

NYCI acknowledges the funding support of the European Commission, Irish Aid and Trócaire

For more information, go to our site, to book online click here and for further information contact deved@nyci.ie or call us on 01 - 4784122.

Development Perspectives is launching it's flagship programme in development education and are welcoming all applications. There are 42 places available on three editions of their eight month long development education programme. One programme will be based in the North East of
Ireland, one in the North West and one in the South East/Midlands of the country. The programme is designed around 3 separate stages both in Ireland and overseas.

All information is available here, and closing date for applications is 24 February. For further information see www.developmentperspectives.ie or contact Deborah Conlon on  deborah@developmentperspectives.ie

2012 is the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations. NYCI is representing the youth sector on the National Steering Group. We are looking for your help..

Do you have experience or knowledge of any projects that focus on solidarity between generations? (these could be projects that involve young people and older people working together or they could be projects that look at changing attitudes towards ageing and older people)

If so please contact Anne Walsh anne@nyci.ie, 01 4784122

Also

Are you interested in running a project this year that would focus on younger and older people working together?

If so please contact Anne Walsh anne@nyci.ie, 01 4784122

Finally

A conference to launch the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations will be held in Dublin Castle on the 9th of February. It will be opened by President Michael D Higgins. There will be opportunities during the conference to explore ways in which groups can focus on Solidarity between Generations projects in 2012.

There will also be a workshop where the audience will be invited to input on the experiences of both younger people and older people in Ireland today. If you, or the young people you work with, are interested in attending, and/or inputting formally, please contact Anne Walsh at NYCI anne@nyci.ie

Places at the conferences are limited. Please register your interest by emailing Anne by Monday 23rd January. We are particularly interested in hearing from young people who would like to attend. The conference may be of particular interest to young people who have done leadership skills training and who are interested in running a ‘solidarity between generations’ project in the coming year.

Draft conference programme

Are you creative, imaginative, artistic and inventive? Now is your group’s chance to get involved in the 2012 ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards, Ireland’s biggest celebration of ECO-Action!

ECO-UNESCO, Ireland’s environmental education and youth organisation, is looking forward to seeing the ideas and action projects from the best young environmentalists from around Ireland. The Young Environmentalist Awards recognizes and rewards young people who raise environmental awareness and improve the environment through environmental action projects.

They are particularly interested in encouraging all Youth Groups who may have completed an environmentally related project recently, or are in the process of completing a project or want to undertake a project to participate in the Young Environmentalist Awards 2012. To register, go to their site.

The link below will take you to the resources page on the website and give you a complete list and description of Shortlisted Projects from the 2011 Awards:

http://www.ecounesco.ie/eco-dev/images/YEA-projects-booklet-2011.pdf.

Show Racism the Red Card (SRTRC) is calling for teachers, tutors and youth workers to register their groups to participate in the Anti- Racism Creative Competition 2012.  Deadline for entries will be the last Friday of February.  The competition is open to primary and secondary schools and also youth services and youthreach centres.  An awards presentation will take place in the AVIVA stadium in April.

Once you register, SRTRC will send you out the Show Racism the Red Card DVD for free and with links to the 28 page education pack, downloadable interactive activities and other resource material that will help you promote learning around racism in your group.  Once the young people have watched the DVD, they will then be challenged to create their own written, visual or audiovisual piece arising from the themes of the DVD.

For more information check out www.theredcard.ie/competition.php

The Centre for Global Education's  Annual Conference 2012 takes place on 23 February 2012 and is entitled 'RISING TO THE CHALLENGE: DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION IN A CHANGING LOCAL AND GLOBAL LANDSCAPE'.

The conference will explore some of the key challenges confronting the development education sector in the current financial climate and shifting policy landscape, particularly in demonstrating the impact of our practice on target groups. It will signpost how the sector can move forward in this context and examine the new opportunities that have arisen for development educators to engage with local audiences on global issues. The keynote address will be delivered by Bobby McCormack of Development Perspectives followed by a panel of speakers and workshops.

Date: Thursday, 23 February 2012

Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm

Venue: The Exchange, 50 Gardiner Street Lower, Dublin 1

Keynote speaker: Bobby McCormack (Co-founder of Development Perspectives and lecturer in Dundalk Institute of Technology).

A full programme and registration form will be circulated soon.  In the meantime, if you require further information please contact: Stephen McCloskey, Director Centre for Global Education.