In 2021 the Dublin City Public Participation Network (PPN), put together a small group, which it called its Migrant Thematic Group (MTG). The aim of the MTG was to bring together PPN member groups that worked with and/or for migrant people within Dublin City. Approximately 15 groups were identified and contacted, and the group began to meet online, as the Covid restrictions were still in place.
Over time, the group began to work together to organise events that were connected to the Culture Strategic Policy Committee (SPC), as this was the main policy area which aligned with people’s work. To that end the MTG organised a day to celebrate International Book and Copyright day in Books Upstairs, put on a photography exhibition in EPIC and ran information days for international students arriving in Dublin, working together closely with some of the PPN member groups, involved in the Migrant Thematic Group.
In 2024, the group decided to work together with Dublin City Council and hold a stand at the Africa Day event in Kilmainham Hospital and a number of volunteers hosted the stand and gave information to the public, attending Africa Day, about the PPN. The volunteers talked about the benefits of joining the PPN; such as sharing information about funding and other opportunities, training sessions and the opportunity to run as a PPN representative and sit on a committee in an area that you were interested in.
The PPN stand was just next door to the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, who were reaching out to the public to inform them of new criteria for donating. Previously, migrants from certain countries were disallowed to give blood in Ireland, but the volunteers on this stand were there to tell people about the changes. The MTG of the PPN said that they would cross promote this information with the people from their own groups, and were happy to share this news.
It was a lovely day – the weather was glorious, and the food and music were wonderful. We were blessed with a beautiful blue sky Dublin day and the smiles were brilliant.
