This article is from page 4 of the 2006-03-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
THE policymakers and people of Clare must make more of an effort to help the county’s estimated 6,000 strong foreign population integrate into the workforce and society of the county.
That’s according to Orla Ní Eilí of the Ennis Refugee Council, who says integration needs to be prompted because it will not happen by itself.
There are no formal events taking place in Clare to mark Intercultural Week, this week.
“We all need to keep looking at it and working at it. I think that at public policy, services, and community development level, integration has to be fostered and encouraged.
“It needs a bit of work and it needs to be managed, because it is not happening organically,” said Ms Ní Eilí.
Intercultural Week is taking place throughout the island of Ireland. The theme of this year’s week is participation and it culminates today with the United Nation’s International Day Against Racism.
“We are encouraging emigrants and refugees to get involved in every element of their society. We have to make sure that the opportunities are there for participation.
“We are running courses on employment and diversity and these are very important for people looking to integrate into working culture of Ireland,” said Ms Ní Eilí
While progress towards greater integration is being made in some sections of Clare society, others are lagging behind.
“Some sectors are better than others.
“The schools in Ennis, for example, are doing great work to ensure that all the children attending their school have proper access to education,” said Ms Ní Eile.
“We need to work very hard with our children to foster this understanding and sharing with different cultures.”
In excess of 60 events are taking place throughout the 32 counties as part of Intercultural Week.
Events are set to take place in Galway and Limerick but in Clare, where almost six per cent of the public are foreign nationals, no formal events have been planned.
“This is a special week and today (the International Day Against Racism) is a special day, but some of the events we had planned, like the intercultural soccer tournament didn’t make sense at this time of the year,” continued Ms Ní Eilí.
“There was a great participation in the Ennis Paddy’s Day parade in Ennis however with 90 flags being carried to represent 90 different countries.”
Intercultural week is being co-ordinated by the NCCRI. For more information check out: www.nccri.ie.