Showing posts with label galway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label galway. Show all posts
DANCING CLASSES
There are free spaces available for asylum seekers in dance classes. The poster with further details can be found in reception.
VOLUNTEER
There is a new volunteer, Caoimhin to open the computer room on Saturday mornings from 10am. All residents are welcome.
ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATIONS
Georgeba is currently organising a group of residents to take part in the St. Patrick's Day Parade. Please contact her for more information.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Djamallah on the birth of her daughter, Jesline. Also to Funmi on the birth of her twins, Biran and Britney. Also to Nadine and Bosoli on the birth of their daughter Believe
MERLIN WOODS CLEAN UP
On January 24th 2010, a group of The Eglinton Residents and Local Community participated in a clean up at the Merlin Woods. It was a very exciting experience which included people from all walks of life, men, women and children alike.
Each month, a different area of the city is cleaned. We will inform the residents of the next clean up. Hopefully more residents will join us. See you there.
Photograph shows Miriam, Sylvia and Margaret with Dr. Sarah Knight from Galway University and Senator (Irish parliament) Niall O'Brolchain
CHILDREN'S & ADULT' S CHRISTMAS PARTIES
Christmas party for the children was a huge success. A big thank you to Santa and all the helpers including Suzanna, Maieve, Verenice, Zebraworld volunteers and residents
Adults Christmas party - Very good night. A big thank you to Fiona, Maanager and staff at the Bal Pub, Salthill. Also thanks to the Management and Staff of the Eglinton Hotel and the Great Western Hostels.
Committee Members: Alice, Anne, Ogechi, Santos, Ali, Ayuu, Alan, DJ Filipe.
For more pictures of the christmas party click here
High Turnout for Voter Registration
With local government elections only a few months (June) away, there was a very positive response by Eglinton residents towards the recent voter registration event held in the Menlo Park Hotel. People were delighted that a number of national and local politicians turned up to talk to asylum seekers and others about the issues that effects their daily lives.
Frank Fahey TD dancing with residents at the Eglinton Adult Christmas Party Dec 2008
Following on from this registration event, Frank Fahey- member of the national parliament (Daíl Éireann)- visited the Eglinton on Friday last to converse further with residents and inform them that he is having an Information event for Eglinton residents within the next weeks. This event will be held in the nearby KCRMA bar where we held our Christmas Adult Party.
Computer Courses Coming to an End
Participants on the recent DERI Internet Awareness Course- (L-R) Lucky, Shpresa & VivianWhilst the VEC may not be providing any similar programme again in the Eglinton due to recent state cutbacks, nevertheless it is hoped that DERI can still continue to do so. However this possibility depends primarily on the commitment of Eglinton residents according to DERI's course tutor and Outreach Officer Brendan Smith.
According to Brendan, "It is essential that Eglinton residents that sign up for learning programmes provided by outside voluntary individuals and groups actually attend all sessions. Otherwise it undermines future opportunities for the Eglinton residents as the resources and committments available to many of these volunary support organisations and individuals are becoming increasingly limited. In the future, they will probably go to work where both the demand and class participation is shown to be high."
Increase in the Amounts of Opening Hours of Computer Room?
Finally there are negotiations presently taking place with mangement to try and ensure that the Eglinton Computer Room is opened every weekday morning and evening for a minimum amount of hours.Unfortunately, reliance of student volunteer supervisors alone has been problematic over the last year due to a combination of exams, holidays and lectures.
We hope to have news on this issue within the next two weeks.
So Watch this Space!!
Eglinton Residents All at Sea!
There are plans to set up a new group in the Eglinton whose aim is to promote an awareness of the importance of keeping Ireland's seashores clean as well as to increase knowledge of the country's marine wildlife.Last Tuesday, 10 residents met with Aidan Gray from Coastwatch Ireland and Sandra Flavin from An Taisce (Ireland's Heritage Watch group) as well as Brendan Smith from Galway University who organised the meeting in Atlantaquaria.
The idea was to set up an Eglinton branch of Coastwatch Ireland. It was agreed that efforts would be made to organise a bus trip to a beach in Connemara that would combine an enjoyable day trip with an environmental learning experience for the adult residents of our asylum seekers' accommodation.
For this trip, Aidan will act as ecological guide and educate participants on the species that inhabit the rock pools and shoreline. He intends to give a talk in the Eglinton next month before the trip takes places which is expected to be in late April.
In May, it is planned that the residents will participate as a distinct group in the largest one-day clean up ever of Irish coastal areas. It is being coordinated by Collete Lavin of the nearby Atlantaquaria (Ireland's national aquarium centre) and will take place all along the Salthill waterfront which as we know is literally outside the doors of the Eglinton. This event will form part of the lead-up to the arrival of the round-the-world Volvo Boat Race to Galway in May.
Residents hope that involvement in such pro-active volunteer schemes such as Coastwatch Ireland will help in the integration of asylum seekers into Irish society.
For further information, contact any member of the Eglinton Residents Committee or Carole Raftery at reception
Chidi Gets Residency Status!
Congrats to Chidi for recently securing residency status!Everyone in the Eglinton is delighted as she is a very popular lady due to her voluntary activities on behalf of local asylum-seekers.
Her greatest achievement was her key role in organising last year's highly successful Fashion Show which gained very positive national exposure both locally and nationally.
We wish her and her family all the very best for the future.
Was Santa Too Friendly with the Eglinton Staff?!!
(Click on photographs for larger version)
Our Advice is that next year Santa should keep his hands off the adults!
Christmas Day 2008 in the Eglinton
Thanks to all the staff of the Eglinton for making Christmas so special to the residents. We really appreciate your efforts!
Sewing Classes & Cinema Trip
The March meeting of the Eglinton Residents' Support Committee discussed further the exciting plans and issues raised at its February meeting (see last article below) that included a Fashion Show and Barbeque.Other new developments include the welcome return of the Sewing Classes tutored by Mary McCarty which re-commenced on Wednesday March 6th.
Zara and Ann of the Friends' Club are organising a Cinema trip within the next few weeks.
Brendan is also hoping to facilitate a trip for residents of all ages to Ireland's National Aquarium (Atlantaquaria) in early July.
Further details can be obtained from committee members or from Carole at reception.
Multiple Nominations with asylum seekers' connections at Galway City Mayoral Awards
(L-R) Dmitry & Natasha Vershinin (Eglinton); Ted Brennan, Lorraine Tansey (organiser of 'CKI Alive!' student volunteer unit at Galway University) & Aida Chipera (former asylum seeker)Quite a few of those who received certificates at this week's Mayoral Awards, in recognition of their unselfish and unpaid voluntary efforts on behalf of others, had connections either with the Eglinton Accommodation Centre or with asylum seeking generally.
But there were others:
- Karin Wimmer who has been the top clown and events organiser at our Christmas & Halloween parties over the last few years. Karin has also provided learning courses to our children in her Galway Circus Project which was also nominated for an award and featured recently in a major national television programme
- former asylum-seeker Aida Chipera who has achieved a high reputation for her work with Galway community organisations
- Brendan Smith from Galway University. Computer Room organiser & founding member of our Residents Support Committee
- Aydros Hussam from the Westside Asylum Seekers Hostel in Galway City. Aydros is one of the primary motivators in promoting sporting and social activities for his fellow residents and was one of our honoured guests at the launch of our Activity Programme 2007-2008 which was hosted by Irish government minister Eamon Ó Cuiv.
Photo: L-R Dmitry, Mayor of Galway City Tom Costello, Natasha & Adrienne Lynam (HSE)Eglinton Foursome Scoops Top Prizes at the World Refugee Awards in Dublin
Two former residents of, and two Public Health nurses working with, the Eglinton all won national awards at the Irish Refugee Awards gala event in Dublin on June 20th last for their tireless efforts on behalf of the Galway asylum seekers community. The event was held as part of Ireland's contribution to the international 'World Refugee Day'.Modern-Day 'Florence Nightingales'
Helena Heagney and Bríd Nichol were outstanding nurses who admirably served the needs of the Eglinton residents during 2006 and 2007. Though they have sadly left us to take up nursing duties elsewhere in the city, nevertheless they left behind them a fantastic legacy of services and facilities that will improve the lives of the residents for years into the future.
Helena for instance helped set up the Eglinton Residents' Support Committee and secured monies for its successful programme of events (See 'Goodbye Helena') Bríd was a tower of strength to the individual health and well being of residents particularly of parents and toddlers. For more on Bríd check out 'Gone but not Forgotten'.
Ireland's Most Angelic Asylum-Seeking Duo
Husband & wife, Adil Jaber and Huda Jafer, left the Eglinton in late December 2006 after they were granted residency
status in Ireland. But they too made a lasting presence to all those who knew them from their year-long stay in the Eglinton. They were the most proactive and charitable residents possible always throwing themselves wholeheartedly into any project that was initiated to make the hotel and Galway a better place to live in. They were particularly supportive to Brendan Smith of the DERI Institute of Galway University in his activation of the Computer Room and in his setting up of a Eglinton Community Internet-based Newsletter.Check out the previous articles written about Adil and Huda as a result of their nominations for the Galway Mayoral Awards (the first asylum seekers to be so nominated):
Asylum Seekers Nominated for Mayoral Awards
Eglinton Residents at Mayoral Awards and Brendan Smith's personal comments as posted on his own website.
Welcome to our Student Computer Volunteers!
Eight volunteers from Galway's two third level colleges are ensuring that our 10 computer unit facility is now open 3 days a week.Ronan, Caoimhin, Grainne, Ted, Sinead, Brendan, Clare and Colin are giving their time free of charge to help residents avail of the Internet and computers in order to communicate with family and friends outside Ireland, develop their own personal websites, print out photographs and learn about software packages such as wordprocessing.
So we all say a "Big Thank You!" to these wonderful people!!
Newspaper for Africans in Ireland- Coming Soon!
The African Voice (Print Media) is a registered tabloid newspaper, established with the aim of promoting Cultural Diversity and Integration in Ireland. The newspaper will particularly focus on Africans in Ireland, along with more general news coverage.So do you have a flair for writing? If so, the African Voice is looking for Voluntary Reporters/Contributors.
According to their statement, the African Voice is looking for interested persons that have:
- an eye for a good story
- a passion for reporting
- a knowledge and understanding of community development issues
- a reputation for accuracy
- a knowledge and understanding of Cultural Diversity and Integration.
New Guide On Doctor Care for Asylum Seekers & Refugees Published
Doctors (GPs) in Galway are to benefit from a new guide on treating asylum seekers and refugees compiled by the HSE, NUI Galway and the Galway Refugee Support Group.The document’, offers information on the broad range of health needs of asylum seekers and refugees, a comprehensive list of local support organizations and relevant information on issues such as women’s health, male circumcision, torture, communicable disease assessment and immunisation.
GPs will also have a template and guide for completing medico-legal reports used in the asylum determination process in supporting a history of physical or mental abuse or torture. If it proves successful, the guide may be adapted for use nationally.
Its author is Dr Hans-Olaf Pieper (photo) who is well known to residents of the Eglinton Hotel Asylum Accommodation Centre
Further information can be obtained from the Health Issues & Services section of this website
High Attendance at our Successful Website Launch
Congratulations to all those people that contributed to the great success of the official launch of our web site including the many guests that came to participate in our very special event. 
We particularly extend our thanks to the key speaker of the event- Michael D. Higgins T.D., President of the Labour Party and one of Ireland's greatest exponents of civil rights on the national and international stage.
Also to Brendan Smith of the DERI Institute of Galway University for his help in making this website a reality
It was a great day for all the residents of the Eglinton. The decorations looked great, the exhibits such as the Children's Arts display attracted a lot of attention, the new Library was opened for the first time and the free freshments were much appreciated by all the attendees.
We hope that we can update the website regularly with the help of many of our volunteer helpers. For it is now our very own 'Online Newsletter'!
So well done everybody!!
These are some pictures for the occasion
We particularly extend our thanks to the key speaker of the event- Michael D. Higgins T.D., President of the Labour Party and one of Ireland's greatest exponents of civil rights on the national and international stage.
Also to Brendan Smith of the DERI Institute of Galway University for his help in making this website a reality
It was a great day for all the residents of the Eglinton. The decorations looked great, the exhibits such as the Children's Arts display attracted a lot of attention, the new Library was opened for the first time and the free freshments were much appreciated by all the attendees.
We hope that we can update the website regularly with the help of many of our volunteer helpers. For it is now our very own 'Online Newsletter'!
So well done everybody!!
These are some pictures for the occasion
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