Spring 2020 NOT for PROFIT
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Issue 68 - Spring 2020 NOT FOR PROFIT CCCOMMUNITYHANGINGHANGING DEVELOPMENT - COLLECTIVE ACTION - EMPOWERMENT - SOCIALIIRELANDRELAND INCLUSION - www.changingireland.ie COMMUNITIES WANT CHANGES IN CHILDCARE (AND MORE) Early Years campaign Last big march of 2020? 30,000 marched Pay rates painful Also: CE pensions protest GOOD NEWS IN A TIME OF CORONAVIRUS Inside - pages 11-15 This publication is produced by Changing Ireland Community Media CLG, an independent, not-for-profit NGO funded through the Department of Rural and Community Development. Visit the Jobs Section on www.ildn.ie And Make a Difference - working with one of Ireland’s 49 Local Development Companies…. The Irish Local Development Network CLG is supported by The Scheme to Support National Organisations which is funded by the Government of Ireland through the Department of Rural & Community Development. • “We teach respect. Now show us some!” said staff from Spraoi Le Cheile in • “We all attended the protest in Dublin looking for the recognition we deserve Dungloe, Co. Donegal. Photo by Kathleen Cook. from the government.” - Claremount Creche and Montessori, Co. Mayo. • “It was an amazing day and we were so proud to be standing ears sector up along with all these people from all over the country showing • Photo supplied by SIPTU which asked, “Is it a coincidence that the Early Y commitment and unity,” said Banteer Community Childcare staff. is staffed mostly by women and has shockingly low pay?” See inside for reports... INDEPENDENT 2-3 Try the ILDN for jobs! / Early Years ‘Changing Ireland’ is an independent not-for-profit march / Journalism opportunities publication. 4 EDITORIAL: Coronavirus V Communities ABOUT US ‘Changing Ireland’ engages in original journalism to 5 FLASHBACK: Female empowerment in highlight the impact of local and community development and social inclusion work in Ireland. We report on action on 2001 in The Liberties with Linda Walsh the ground and provide a space for reflection on what serves people and communities best. 6-7 CAMPAIGNS: Why communities want change The magazine was established in 2001 and is based in Moyross, Limerick. We value social justice, equality and fair 8 SOCIAL ENTERPRISE: Grants rush play and to aim to give people who are rarely heard a voice. We produce journalism to highlight valuable work funded 9 DIGI-SKILLS: An Cosán on the case or supported by Government departments and agencies. We provide a platform for those on the ground in communities. 10-11 HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR TOMI Our readers include workers, activists and volunteers REICHENTAL: Whispers lead to murder nationwide, civil and public servants and many more involved in social inclusion and community development. 11-15 MY JOURNEY: Of use to individuals & ‘Changing Ireland’ is core-funded by the Department of society. Rural and Community Development. See page 4 for information about the team behind ‘Changing 16 LEADER: Supporting Meath River Rescue Ireland’. 17-19 INTERVIEW: Kevin McCarthy, Sec. General, Dept of Rural & Comm Dev’t. SUPPORT contents ‘Changing Ireland’ generates a small amount of social 20-21 LIMERICK’S URBAN CO-OP: 24/7 success enterprise revenue. It is core-funded by Government since 2001, receiving support from the: 22-23 NORTH DUBLIN: Showcasing successes 24-25 YOUTUBE: Mayo migrants show the way 26-27 DON MULLAN, EYE-WITNESS: Treasure peace 28 HSE: Coronavirus - The Facts WANTED: Freelance Journalist 12+hrs p.w. CALL US TOdaY! We invite enquiries from freelance professional multi-media We produce quality journalists at a pivotal time in Ireland’s development. This journalism and focus on position is now open. Ideally mid-west based. National role. people in communities who Full professional payrate & expenses. are changing Ireland. The role and hours may expand. Join us in showcasing best practice in communities across Ireland - online and in our print magazine. We are also open to enquiries from recent media studies’ grads and from people with experience in the Community and Voluntary Sector. E: [email protected] M: 086-8591-676. - Community Development - - Empowerment - Participation - - Social Inclusion - Best Practice - ‘Changing Ireland’ was established in 2001. Based in Moyross, Limerick. Solutions - Collective Action - W: changingireland.ie Editorial Communities v. Coronavirus / Good News y the time in the opposite direction, towards social facing us. The new government will be aware you read this, distancing. Let’s take care. Be clever. Use of this now, thankfully. Bcommunities and technology. Let’s engage in community civil society across management in new ways. the country will be Communities often set the lead during CAUSE TO CELEBRate II Also cause for celebration is the launch coming to terms crises and it is important we respond in January of the brilliant new ‘My Journey’ with the challenges appropriately, as communities largely will no Distance Travelled Toolkit (see pages 11-14). of coronavirus. doubt (resources permitting). It gives community development workers Collective action Keep the bright side out. Keep in good something they wanted for decades - a way to and engagement humour. qualitatively measure the value of their work. are at the core of Also, we have so much to celebrate. Here Counting heads only ever painted a partial community development and practitioners are are three for example: picture and the new toolkit is welcome. already adjusting their behaviour. I had drafted an article comparing the potential impact of low, medium and high CAUSE TO CELEBRate I Let’s celebrate the fact that communities CAUSE TO CELEBRate III impacts from the virus, but parked it. Other ‘Changing Ireland’ is now in its 20th year! rose once more and made their voices heard well-meaning articles were also parked. Thanks to everyone involved, especially nationally before the election. The campaign On the weekend that coronavirus came you, dear reader! Here’s wishing you all for proper pay and support in early years to Ireland, the Department of Rural and individual and collective strength, resilience, education hit a high mark during the election Community Development recommended that wisdom and friendship. campaign with 30,000 people marching in people follow the advice of the HSE and the Dublin. National Public Health Emergency Team. The issue of low pay is a reality for many They later asked us to do likewise in workers in the Community & Voluntary this edition and we are doing so. We are in Sector and this impacts on communities as it extraordinary times. Allen Meagher becomes harder to recruit and to retain people. In striving for inclusion, we are all about This is an important issue and one that could engagement, reaching out and including the become even more important in the period hardest to reach. This virus pushes society FILE A REPORT FOR US! If you believe in Community Development and enjoy writing, why not file a report for us about your community project and what makes it unique. 300-400 words is plenty (and a photo if possible). Certain criteria apply. Your first point of contact should be the editor. Published By: Production: Established in 2001, ‘Changing Ireland’ is a national magazine Editor: Allen Meagher. focused on community development and social inclusion. It Editorial Team: Viv Sadd, Jude Meaney, Kirsty Tobin, Robert is managed and published by Changing Ireland Community Carey, Joe Saunders, Paul Geraghty/Bernie Reape and Allen Media CLG., through funding from the Department of Rural & Meagher. Community Development. Packing and Distribution: Speedpak, Dublin, an award- winning social enterprise. Tel Editor: 061-326057. E: [email protected] Printed by: Davis Printers, Limerick. Office: ‘Changing Ireland’, Community Enterprise Centre, Moyross, Limerick. Voluntary Board of Directors: Cathy Jones (chair), George Clancy (vice), Seamus McGiff (sec), Jude Meaney, Andrew W: www.changingireland.ie O’Byrne, Jason Craig and Danielle Hickey. T: @changingireland Thanks To . F: www.facebook.com/changingirelandmedia/ ‘Changing Ireland’ thanks everyone involved in the production Y: youtube.com/changingireland of Issue 68. L: linkedin.com/company/changing-ireland I: changingireland Front Cover: Also: Issuu.com Photo supplied by SIPTU. DISCLAIMER The views expressed in this magazine are those of the author concerned. They do not, by any means, necessarily reflect the views of the editor, the editorial team, the voluntary management board of Changing Ireland Community Media CLG, or its core-funder the Department of Rural & Community Development. One thing we can be pretty sure about: Whoever invented 4 hand sanitiser is rubbing their hands together right now. Visit our online archive Female empowerment in 2001 - with Linda Walsh in The Liberties, Dublin n 2001, we featured an Her realism, her cheery interview with Linda Walsh outlook and her belief helped Ifrom The Liberties in Dublin us to reach out to readers with and she appeared smiling on a story that conveyed what our front cover. At the time, is so good about community other publications portrayed development. anti-poverty work in a bleak style. By contrast, Linda’s smile I remember clearly meeting showed what winning was like. Linda in her office on the second floor of a block of flats, Online, we recalled Linda’s shortly after she was appointed story of struggle and success project co-ordinator of School on March 8th, International Street Family Resource Centre. Women’s Day. If it was possible, we would The day I met her she was love to re-interview Linda for still pleased to have proven her ‘Changing Ireland’. former headmaster wrong. That man had demoralised her at a Originally from Clondalkin, pivotal time in her life, but she our interviewee had been proved him wrong. written off by her headmaster who told her family, when she The story was published was an adolescent, that she • Above & below: Linda Walsh proved the headmaster wrong. Originally from in our second edition and in was never going to go far.