Mayo Intercultural Action
Different Together Seminar
By Michelle Rooney
10, Apr 2013 - 19:33

Seminar for Mayo Intercultural Action's ‘Different Together' Project

Mayo Intercultural Action is holding a public seminar on their ‘Different Together' project on Wednesday 17th April in GMIT, Castlebar from 11am to 1pm. This is an opportunity to come along and learn about this integration initiative which aimed to build the capacity of migrants to become actively involved in their local communities, to promote integration and to develop sustainable communities in Mayo.

Twenty migrants participated in the project and completed a training and development programme which included receiving a certificate in Community Work in a Changing Ireland from NUI Maynooth. The participants have developed significant personal skills, greater confidence and empowerment, and they have gained an understanding of the challenges to integration and the knowledge to overcome these.

The seminar will include presentations from the project participants, the project evaluator Josephine Lally will present findings on the outcomes of the project and there will be an input from Therese Ruane, a founder of Mayo Intercultural Action and promoter of migrants' rights and integration.

MIA has been supported by several partner organisations in the delivery of the project including Mayo County Development Board, GMIT, NUI Maynooth, Mayo Rape Crisis Centre, Mayo Children's Initiative, Claremorris Community Radio, Mayo Citizens Information Service, Castlebar Town Council, An Garda Siochána, South West Mayo Development Company, Mayo North East and Galway Refugee Support Group, who have contributed greatly to the delivery of Different Together. The project is co-financed by the European Commission under the European Refugee Fund and is supported by the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration in the Department of Justice and Equality and Pobal.

Mayo Intercultural Action (MIA) exists to promote the positive effects of interculturalism and the meaningful participation of migrants and their families in all aspects of the community in County Mayo. MIA is a voluntary group whose vision is of an open, just and equal Ireland, where human rights and cultural differences are respected and where new Irish communities are offered equal rights and opportunities.

Since its foundation in 2004 MIA has worked to generate a real and optimistic impact on the lives of migrants and their families as well as the wider population in County Mayo over the past number of years. Achievements include:

• Publication of "Building a Diverse Mayo - A Report on Immigration, Integration and Services Provision" which was well received and continues to contribute to policy formation in the county.
• High level of publicity in the public sphere on matters relating to migrants experiences in County Mayo.
• Contribution to the formation of the Mayo Integration Forum which has become significant arena for discussion, increasing statutory and NGO organisations awareness of migration issues.
• Alliance building with a wide range of agencies including other NGOs, statutory and private sector organisations at local regional and national levels.
• Delivery of two significant training, educational and development programmes - European Refugee Fund Programme ‘Different Together' project and Equality for Women Measure ‘GROW' project.