A seminar Making the Case for Development Education in Youth Work, took place on 9 February as part of the NYCI National Youth Development Education Programme. The report and further information  is now available.

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The NGO Alliance Against Racism (NAAR) Conference Institutional Racism: Is Ireland Responding? will take place on the morning of Tuesday 20th March, 2012 at the Dublin City Wood Quay venue, and will be followed by a light lunch. The keynote speaker is Imran Khan, Human Rights lawyer and solicitor for the Stephen Lawrence Case. Attendance is free, but places are limited and booking is essential.

To book a place, please email justiceop@eircom.net or call the Dominican Justice Office,
Coordinator of the NGO Alliance Against Racism, on 01 857 4654

A non-formal, creative and interactive 5-day residential training approach to explore and develop new community-based intercultural activities.

Participants will explore intercultural practice, define their needs, share experiences and inspire each other to develop intercultural strategies and actions for their work in the youth field.

Date & Venue:  29th May - 3rd June 2012, Sportchalet Mürren, Switzerland.

Countries involved: Switzerland (Host), Bulgaria, Belgium, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Kosovo & Netherlands

Target Participants:

Youth workers (working with young people with fewer opportunities) who are interested in developing action projects on intercultural work.

Language of the Training: English (all participants are required to be able to communicate in English)

Number of participants: 30                   

Trainer team: Oliver Schneitter (Switzerland/Israel), Viv Sadd (Ireland), Yael Gidanian (Israel)

Contact & information: Oliver Schneitter, oschneitter@gmx.ch,

T: +972 527473194. 

Context:

Conflict, discrimination, racism and xenophobia are realities that culturally diverse  societies have to deal with.

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Youth workers  often work with young people in culturally diverse communities that provoke challenges in intercultural understanding and inclusion of members of society with different backgrounds, for example, in terms of culture, language, ethnical backgrounds and religion.

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The challenge facing youth workers working with young people from different cultural backgrounds is to promote and practice positive intercultural work and for young people to value this.

Objectives: 

• To explore cultural diversity and identify the opportunities and challenges it presents.
• To raise awareness and understanding about Intercultural work.
• To share and discover different  intercultural work practice in the youth sector. 
• To generate creative strategies of how and what youth workers in community contexts can do to  promote best practices in intercultural work within the youth sector at a local and European level
• To raise awareness on Youth in Action as a program tool to improve intercultural work in the youth sector

Costs: €40 course fee. 70% of your travel costs will be covered. Accommodation and food are free

Interested? ...then complete and submit the application form on http://goo.gl/pTvXu before  Sat 17th March 2012

This workshop will provide an introduction to global learning targeted specifically at the community sector. The training seeks to increase participant’s knowledge of the links between the local and global, build capacity of community workers to support local groups and communities to think critically about global issues at a local level and to provide practical exercises and tools to this end.  The workshop will be based on a training course delivered in the south of Ireland by Lourdes Youth and Community Services (www.lycs.ie).

Booking is essential and registration fees paid in advance.  Participation is strictly limited to 16 with priority given to educators who can apply the training in community settings.  For further information and a registration form please contact Stephen McCloskey, E: stephen@centreforglobaleducation.com. 

VENUE: Volunteer Now, 34 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast, BT2 7DB

DATE: Friday, 9 March 2012

TIME: 10.00am – 4.00pm  (Light lunch provided)

REGISTRATION FEES: £20 (waged) and £10 (unwaged / student)

Three bursaries are available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis for minority ethnic organisations.

This workshop, exploring the Roma community using active learning methodologies, will enable participants to `unveil their lenses’ and recognise and challenge general and individual assumptions about the Roma.  It will raise awareness of Roma culture, history and traditions while providing the critical thinking skills needed to challenge the stereotypes often applied to the Roma both locally and internationally.  It will seek to enhance links between the Roma and other sectors in civil society. Facilitators:  Denis Iiliescu and Sorina Toma, both experienced global educators and Romanian nationals.  Fee: €20 (waged); €10 (unwaged/student).  For more information or to book a place please contact: Stephen McCloskey, T: +44 (0) 2890 241879, E: stephen@centreforglobaleducation.com

Time/date: 23 March, 10 am – 4 pm, The Carmelite Centre, 56 Aungier Street, Dublin 2.

ECO-UNESCO Short Courses (Winter/Spring)

• Peer Education & Sustainability Training
  23 Feb (Thursday) @ the Greenhouse / 10:00-16:00
  FREE for youth workers & youth leaders (Cost: €45* / €50** / €80)
• Drug Prevention Training for Trainers (ECO-CHOICES)
  28 Feb (Tuesday) @ the Greenhouse / 10:00-16:00
  Introducing environmental education as a resource (Cost: €70* / €80** / €90)
• ECO-Community Garden Training
  13 Mar (Tuesday) @ the Greenhouse / 10:00-16:00
  FREE for youth workers & youth leaders (Cost: €70* / €80** / €90)
• Urban Ecology Discovery Days (Age 12-18)
  5/6/8/9 Mar @ the Greenhouse & Dublin city centre / 10:00 - 12:30
  Interactive workshop programme to explore the Urban Ecology of Dublin City
  (Cost: €5 special Tree Week discount, group discounts available)

ECO-UNESCO Accredited Training

• ECO-UNESCO’s Introduction to Sustainable Development (FETAC L5)
• OPTION 2): INTENSIVE 24-25 Feb & 23-24 Mar (Fri-Sat)
• @ the Greenhouse (Cost: €200* / €220** / €240)

Pavee Point will host a semianr on 'The Impact of the Habitual Residence Condition on Travellers and Roma in Ireland'. It takes place in the Oak Room, Mansion House from 10.30am - 2.30pm on Thursday 22 March. To book your place, contact: siobhan.curran@pavee.ie

The Executive Committee of Banúlacht have taken the very difficult decision to close Banúlacht with effect from March 31st. This decision was taken because of a number of factors that have combined to make it impossible to continue to do their work according to their feminist ethos.

They are inviting members to come together on Saturday March 31st at 3pm, in a Dublin city centre location (venue to be confirmed closer to date),  to celebrate Banúlacht’s work and to provide a space for you to look at how feminist global solidarity work, and the Mná Sasa Manifesto in particular, can continue.

Email: eileen@banulacht.ie

www.banulacht.ie

The biggest international Irish-language festival in the world is celebrating 110 years in existence this year and there are hundreds of events running worldwide as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge 2012 from 5 - 17 March 2012. For this year's launch of Seachtain na Gaeilge, there will be a brief photo shoot with the Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD and television and radio presenter Eoghan Mac Diarmada in the courtyard of Government Buildings, Merrion Street, Dublin 2, at 1.45pm Tuesday, 06 March 2012. Eoghan Mac Diarmada is available for interview.

"Representing Young People: Voice, Image, Practice, Power", Tuesday 26th – Friday 29th June 2012
Papers are invited on all aspects of the representation of youth, including issues of cultural expression and recognition, image construction and stereotyping, as well as ‘political’ representation and participation. Papers which foreground young people's own voices are particularly welcome, as are those which address how the politics of representation reflect the diversity and heterogeneity of ‘youth’.

Deadline for receipt of abstracts (300 words maximum):
Friday 2nd March 2012

(Responses will be issued by Friday 16th March at the latest; earlier responses may be provided on request to facilitate travel plans)

Send to: kathryn.mcgarry@nuim.ie
Conference website and registration will be available shortly at:
http://appliedsocialstudies.nuim.ie/

Hosted by the Department of Applied Social Studies, NUI Maynooth, in association with the Research Committee on Youth of the International Sociological Association (RC34) and Youth Studies Ireland.

This creation is "Bino and Fino," a cartoon aimed at three to five year olds, about a brother and sister who live with their grandparents in an unnamed African city.

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/23/world/africa/nigeria-cartoon-bino-fino...

As you may know, it is Fairtrade Fortnight, running from 27th February to 11th March. This year the theme is ‘Take a Step for Fairtrade’, and the spotlight will be on cotton, highlighting how unjust international trade policies are keeping millions of cotton farmers in the Global South in poverty.

In support of Fairtrade Fortnight Comhlámh is running a fun 'Take a Step for Trade Justice’ Sock Puppet photo competition on Facebook.  This competition is open to anyone of any age who would like to express their ideas about Trade Justice creatively. 

To be in with a chance of winning a pair of Fairtrade Ethletic Trainers, a Fairtrade hamper, free Comhlámh membership, or any of our other amazing prizes, simply go to our competition page on our Facebook profile here, click enter to enter the competition and upload a photo of your sock puppet with your slogan or message about why Trade Justice matters. The shortlist will be based on the entry with the most votes so share the link for your photo on your wall and ask all your friends to vote  for your entry!

Your step counts for farmers, workers and their communities in the Global South, who urgently need a better deal from current global trade agreements and structures. Before you enter why not read up on Comhlámh’s work on Trade Justice and on the importance of Fairtrade by clicking here.

Comhlámh will also be organising workshops across the country, in Dublin, Galway and Kerry, during Fairtrade Fortnight to highlight unjust trade practices and how you can take action in support of a brighter future to farming communities in the developing world. For more information on this please click here.

The closing date for the receipt of applications for Irish Aids Development Education Annual Grant 2012 is 12 March - full details are available at http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=368.

Organised by the Irish Red Cross Youth Department, this training is aimed at raising awareness of the linkages between humanitarian issues and migration as well as promoting positive attitudes towards refugees and migrants amongst young people. The training will include: Introduction to Positive Images; Working with the Positive Images Toolkit; Ideas for Activities and Games; and Developing and Planning Action Projects.

Participation open to anyone working with youth and interested in delivering the project and in raising awareness within their youth groups and amongst their peers. Participation fee: 55 (including administration costs and handouts/toolkit materials and light lunch). For more information and to download a booking form please visit http://tinyurl.com/3o227gt or contact Louise, T: 01 642 4600, E: lscollins@redcross.ie.

Webinar on Inequality - North and South: 14 March, 12 noon 1 pm (GMT). This webinar is the second in the Development as Shared Responsibility series hosted by IDEA and DEEEP. This month, Roberto Bissio, Director of the Instituto del Tercer Mundo in Uruguay and coordinator of the Social Watc report, will discuss the local and global consequences of widening social and economic inequalities. His presentation will last for 30 minutes and will be followed by a 30 minute Question-and-Answer session. The webinar is free but advance registration is essential. For further information or to register please email susan@ideaonline.ie.

Trade in Land? A Fair Trade for Development?: 7 March, 6.15 7.45 pm, Bewley's Cafe, Grafton Street, Dublin 2. Dr Edward Lahiff, lecturer in International Development at UCC and anthropology PhD candidate, Anne Fitzgerald will discuss the issues at hand. The chair person is to be confirmed. Audience participation is encouraged so please, come and have your say. For more information please contact Ruth Powell, E: debates@comhlamh.org.

The Global Awareness Programme is an exciting training, volunteering and awareness raising project focussing on HIV/AIDS. It combines training and volunteering in South Africa and awareness raising campaign here in Ireland. The programme is partially funded by Irish Aid and the EIL Trust Fund.

Four people will be chosen to participate on the programme.

The participants will:

·   Attend training on HIV&AIDS issues in Ireland

.   Attend a training on media and awareness raising skills

·   Volunteer for 8 weeks in a HIV&AIDS organisation in South Africa

·   Plan and implement an awareness raising campaign around HIV&AIDS on their return to Ireland

Bursaries are available to help with the costs.

For further information, including application form, please log onto http://www.eilireland.org/development-education/global-awareness-programme or contact Caterina Totaro  on E: caterina@eilireland.org T: 021 4551535

The deadline for entry is March 20th. The final 4 winners are shortlisted and selected by a panel primarily made up of past Global Awareness Programme participants. 

For more information and the application form, please go to http://www.eilireland.org/development-education/what-we-do/global-awareness-programme. 

Debt and Development Coalition Ireland, Trócaire, Amnesty and Mayfield Arts Cork, are hosting a major post primary teachers conference on Saturday March 3rd in Athlone on the exciting and topical theme of 'Connecting the Head, Heart and Hands'.

The conference will support educators in developing approaches of 'linking knowing and doing in education' and in discussing the challenges of integrating action into global justice education. The conference content is relevant to a range of post-primary levels, in particular transition year, and to educators in the community and informal sectors.

The conference programme is here
http://www.debtireland.org/download/pdf/ty_flyer_pdf.pdf

Register with: campaign@debtireland.org

Global Border Studies, established in 2010, is seeking enthusiastic, committed educators for two positions: 'English for Academic Purposes/Information Technology Instructor' and 'Social Sciences Teacher and Mentor' for its first post-pilot cycle. 

Through a blended learning approach of on-site and online tutoring, the school provides a tertiary-level programme of study to a multi-ethnic group of adults from Burma who seek to develop a deeper understanding of issues of ethnicity, development, conflict and peace in order to promote future development within their communities. Upon completion, students are equipped with relevant skills, competencies and confidence to approach local challenges to community development with fresh, alternative solutions.

Full job descriptions and terms are available here for both positions:

'English for Academic Purposes/Information Technology Instructor'

'Social Sciences Teacher and Mentor'

Eimear McNally and Clare Mulvany (www.onewildlife.org) are hosting an "Ideas to Action" café on the evening of Thursday 15th March in Dublin City Centre.

The aim of the evening is to host creative, action-oriented conversation where ideas can be grown from seeds to seedlings, ready to be planted out in the world! They'll be using Pro-Action Café as a method, which is a mix of World Café and Open Space Technology. Even if you don't have an idea that you would like to develop, this will be an opportunity to meet and connect with other creatives and entrepreneurial types. There will also be lovely tea, coffee, buns, cakes, and yummy eats.

Please register in advance and there is a fee of €10 towards the cost of the event. For more information and details about how to register see here:

http://onewildlife.org/2012/02/08/stepping-in-ideas-to-actions-cafe-thursday-15th-march/

This has grown from the Women's Entrepreneur Circle that Clare hosts every month, but everyone is welcome.

International Women's Day is celebrated annually on 8th March throughout the world to mark women's political, economic and social achievements and to mark women's struggle for equality and justice. Events are happening throughout Ireland to celebrate the day. For more information, visit www.youthdeved.ie/womens_day

The North-South Centre is introducing its Global Education on-line training course on intercultural dialogue. This global education online learning course is designed for education practitioners, social workers, civil society, youth activists, as well as policy and decision makers, local authorities and intercultural cities. It provides an overview on why intercultural education is relevant and needed, what it means in theory and practice and how it can be improved in relation to the context of a globalised world, the local needs, its contents and methodology.

The course takes place from 12 March to 15 April, 2012 and the deadline for applications is 2 March

. More information…

. Application form

. Course website

ECO-UNESCO are hosting a youth seminar 'Young Global Citizens for Sustainable Development' on Wednesday, 7th March 2012, 10 a.m.–4 p.m, at The Greenhouse, 17 St Andrew Street, Dublin 2. Young people from all over Ireland are invited to join ECO-UNESCO for this one-day event where there will be interactive activities, guest speakers and workshops to engage young people in dialogue about becoming active citizens around the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and the Millennium Development Goals.

Following the event, young people will be invited to submit photographs for an exhibition entitled ‘Camera on Citizenship – Global Views’, which will be launched at the Greenhouse in the weeks prior to the Rio+20 Conference in June.

Deadline for registration is Wednesday, 22nd February. Please register early to avoid disappointment as places are limited.

ECO-UNESCO gratefully acknowledges the funding of Irish Aid and Leargas Youth in Action for this event.

For more information and to register, contact Megan at: t. 01 6625491/e. ysd@ecounesco.ie

or visit their website.

Fairtrade Fortnight is coming up from 27 February until 11 March.

If you are thinking of exploring issues related to Fairtrade with your youth group, check out the resource pack 'Youth for Fair Trade' by Y Care International.  Y Care International have written this resource pack as part Coventry Cathedrals' Youth for Fair Trade Project.

You can also check out activities related to trade and globalisation, in NYCI's resources 'A Rich Man's World?' (2011), and 'Big World, Small World' (2002).

Run4unity is an opportunity for young people throughout Ireland to join with teenagers of different cultures and religions from 186 nations to give a witness of worldwide solidarity and a commitment to building a more united,  just, humane world.

Events can be organised locally in your local community,  school, parish etc OR you can take part with many others in the national RUN4UNITY at the Northern Ireland Parliament Buildings, Stormont,  Belfast on Saturday 12th May.

The Run4Unity is an International Sports Marathon which in 2005 and 2008 involved over 100,000 young people in 182 cities. Irish teenagers are invited to join with tens of thousands of their peers in significant locations around the globe, in this world wide relay race to express their desire for a more united world and to raise funds for scholarships in developing countries.

"Run4Unity" aims to cover the earth with a rainbow of peace and unity and help to  spread  the "Golden Rule." "Do to others whatever you would have them do to you". It's a simple rule urging us to respect everyone and to be the first in going out to others and so change lives and contribute to universal fraternity. Young people who are involved can be part of a virtual marathon  in which the baton will be passed on from one time zone to another and the whole event can be followed by followed via satellite. They can be sponsored if they wish to help educational projects in less developed parts of the world.

Experiences of how groups seek to relieve suffering and work for justice in their local communities can be shared on the websites in the lead up to the main event. Youth groups, school groups different youth movement are being invited to collaborate in a spirit of friendship in this event.

More info and downloadable resources from the websites shown below

http://www.youthforunity.org/            http://www.run4unity.net/

http://www.teens4unity.org/              http://www.iec2012.ie/index.jsp?p=3856&n=3858

* Green Teen Youth Club! 

* Peer Education Programme (Age: 15-18)

* Environmental Workshops (on request)

* ECO-Kids Parties (Age 12 and under)  

 * Green Trails (On request)

* Green Teen Youth Club! 

ECO-UNESCO is delighted to announce the beginning of a brand new club just for young people the Green Teen Youth Club!

-Do you want to find out more about the environment and issues affecting the planet?

-Do you want to take action and affect real change?

-Want to meet new people in a friendly, laid-back atmosphere?

-If so, the Green Teen Youth Club is the right place for you

When? Every Tuesday 5.00pm – 6.30pmm.  Starting from Tuesday, 10th January Where? The Greenhouse (17 St Andrew Street, Dublin 2) 

Be part of something new and exciting. Be part of the Green Teen Youth Club. Contact Colin at youth@ecounesco.ie for more details.

* Peer Education Programme (Age: 15-18)

12 Week programme / Start date: 19 Jan (Thursday’s)

This short course introduces participants to peer education and how it can be used in work with young people. Participants will learn how to develop a peer education approach centred on the principles of Sustainability and leadership.

By the end of the training participants will:

Be confident in developing a Peer Education approach through Participative Education for Sustainable Development methodologies. Be able to engage young people in issues of Sustainable Development and examine how the principles of Sustainable Development tie into their lives. Know how to facilitate personal development in young people as Peer Educators. Be confident and be able to use the Youth for the Future peer Education and sustainability resource.

Who? Youth leaders, teachers, community educators and anyone who wants to learn more about peer education theory and practical ways of using it for sustainability.

Where? ECO-UNESCO @ The Greenhouse, 17 St Andrew Street, Dublin 2

When? Dates 4th Feb 2011 || 14th Apr 2011 || 20th Oct 2011. Time 10.00am - 4.00pm

How much?     €45 ECO-UNESCO Members, students, unwaged, young people

under 25; €50 Voluntary and Community Sector; €80 Statutory

(Fee includes the Youth for the Future handbook) (Subsidised by Irish Aid)

How do I book? Contact ECO-UNESCO at ysd@ecounesco.ie || +353 (0)1 662 5491

Further details & bookings: ysd@ecounesco.ie

* Environmental Workshops (on request)

ECO-UNESCO is a specialist provider of environmental education and youth services in Ireland. At present ECO-UNESCO offers two workshop programmes: ECO-Discovery and ECO-Leaders. Both programmes are available to schools and youth groups and include fun activities and games appropriately designed for each age group.

* ECO-Kids Parties (Age 12 and under)                

Packed full of fun activities with an environmental twist. Further details & booking: youth@ecounesco.ie. These parties are available on request.

 * Green Trails (On request)

Learn about biodiversity, green business and more on our unique guided tours. Further details & booking: youth@ecounesco.ie            

Calling all photographers; professional and amateur. KADE (Kerry Action for Development Education) is looking for striking photographs that portray a positive image of Africa. Thirty images will be selected for the annual Vision of Africa exhibition in Kerry as part of national Africa Day celebrations.

The latest date for submission of photographs for the exhibition is  March 31st 2012.

For further information on the Visions of Africa 2012 exhibition visit www.kade.ie/visionsofafrica
KADE is a signatory to the Dóchas Code of Conduct on Images & Messages.

'Open Your Mind - Speak Out Against Racism' is the 2012 campaign as part of the Europe-wide Action Week against Racism.

Racism must not be tolerated nor ignored - Lets confront it UNITED!
Last year, numerous organisations in 49 European Countries joined the annual European-wide Action Week Against Racism. Thousands of people all over Europe were united in their fight for a Europe without discrimination, intolerance, racism and nationalism - promoting diversity, mutual respect and understanding. This year again UNITED calls for international participation during the European-wide Action Week Against Racism (17-25 March 2012)!

Become active in this years' campaign
Don't worry, good activities don't have to be expensive. Much more important than money are creativity and engagement. You do not necessarily have to organise a big demonstration or event, awareness about the emerging issues of racism and discrimination is already created when you spread/hang the UNITED campaign material in universities, schools, your working place or in the streets.
To get some inspiration have a look at the last year's List of Activities under the UNITED website.

Give the campaign a European dimension
Inform us about your actions to highlight the issue of racism on European level. Your activities will be published through the European List of Activities that creates visibility and attention all over Europe. In this way you also contribute to create a strong and diverse European-wide campaign.
Don't forget: Even small things can change the world!

Order campaign material for free
UNITED can send up to 2 kilos campaign material free of charge (only in Europe), please calculate how many copies you want. For more than 2 kilos we ask for contribution towards the mailing costs but if you need more free material for special purposes don't hesitate to contact us.

*** 21 MARCH ***
This is the International Day for the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination, established by The General Assembly of the United Nations in 1966 following the brutal murder of 69 protestors in the South African township of Sharpeville in 1960. The massacre occurred while they had gathered to protest against the apartheid laws of the South African government, a regime systematically enforcing racial inequality and segregation. Today racist murders and violence are still commonplace and racial discrimination continues to creep into every corner of our societies.

Every year around 21 March, the UNITED Network coordinates the European-wide Action Week Against Racism and calls upon the international community to erase racism, discrimination and intolerance. We urge NGOs, independent and informal groups, schools, local councils and all manner of organisations and individuals to join forces and confront racism with direct action. Whether by organising activities, supporting others or spreading the message, we can tackle racism. Prejudice lives in all of us and so we all have a part to play in erasing it from our environment.

UNITED for Intercultural Action is the European network against nationalism, racism, fascism and in support of migrants and refugees. Linked through UNITED, more than 550 organisations and youth organisations work together on a voluntary basis.