Global solidarity hub opens at National Ploughing Championships
Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond, officially opened the Global Solidarity Hub at the National Ploughing Championships in Screggan this morning (Tuesday).
The hub sees some of the leading practitioners working for the advancement of global social justice in Ireland come together.
GOAL, Trócaire, Dóchas Worldview, Self Help Africa, Sightsavers Ireland and Brighter Communities Worldwide are providing attendees with a chance to experience the work of Irish NGOs in the space of agriculture, disability inclusion, sustainability and imagery through interactive and diverse methods.
Dóchas CEO Jane-Ann McKenna said the hub provides an important opportunity for people to reflect on global challenges at a local event.
"The hub will be three days full of interactive exhibitions and activities that will inspire, question and challenge people’s perceptions about some of the biggest issues facing the world today, like conflict, hunger and sustainable development. We were delighted to have Minister Neale Richmond open it," she said.
"As the impact of the aid cuts by the US, UK and other European countries becomes more evident, it is vitally important to showcase the life-saving work being done by Irish humanitarian organisations on the ground."
The hub incorporates a wide range of interactive experiences, including: GOAL NextGen’s thought-provoking card game Cards for Humanity, and agricultural tools from their global programme which showcase diverse agricultural methods used around the world.
The hub also includes 'Trócaire's Climate Myth Busters', Official development assistance (ODA) Scratch and Learn Cards, and Artivism activities for children, all of which are designed to engage visitors in interactive, thought-provoking, and family-friendly ways, while showing how global solidarity is more important than ever in these uncertain times.
Sightsavers Ireland’s Virtual Reality technology, meanwhile, allows Ploughing attendees to experience first-hand a day in the lives of people with disabilities in Sierra Leone.
Dóchas Worldview is inviting attendees to the hub to share their perspectives on their place in the world, their views on the global community, and their hopes for the future.
They’ll also be asked to reflect on the types of images international NGOs use in their campaigns and share their opinions.
The purpose of the Global Solidarity Hub is to highlight the importance of global citizenship and Ireland's role in building a fairer, more sustainable world.